Two Louisiana police officers died when their helicopter crashed when it was sent to help with a chase early Sunday.
Baton Rouge police officials are withholding the names of the two officers killed in the until family members have been contacted, WAFB-TV reports. The helicopter—a Robinson R-44—went down at about 3 a.m. in West Baton Rouge Parish, near Port Allen.
“Today is a very emotional day for the men and women of the Baton Rouge Police Department,” said Chief Murphy Paul. “Right now, we’re asking the community to lift up our officers in prayer.”
Although the helicopter has been deployed to assist a pursuit at around 2 a.m., officials didn't know anything was wrong until several hours later. A search discovered the helicopter's wreckage in a sugarcane field.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will be heading an investigation into the incident.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will launch an investigation. According to the FAA, the NTSB will be in charge of the investigation.
“We’re asking the community to be respectful of the investigative process because it does take time so that we can release all the facts related to this incident to the family as well as the community,” said Paul.
