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Three officers die in US shooting Three officers die in US shooting
(about 1 hour later)
Three police officers have been killed by a gunman in the US city of Pittsburgh after they went to his home in response to an emergency call. Three police officers have been killed by a gunman in Pittsburgh - the second mass shooting in the US in 24 hours.
Police said the man, named as Richard Poplawski, fired several dozen times using a high-powered rifle before he was injured and gave himself up. The officers were responding to an emergency call from the house of the gunman, named as Richard Poplawski, 23.
The authorities have not speculated as to a motive, but the 23-year-old's friends say he recently lost his job. Police said he was waiting, armed with rifles and a bulletproof vest. He shot two officers as they entered the house, and a third who tried to help them.
He then traded gunfire with police for four hours before being injured and giving himself up.
His friends said he had recently lost his job, and was worried that US President Barack Obama was about to ban guns.
The shooting comes a day after a gunman killed 13 people in New York state.The shooting comes a day after a gunman killed 13 people in New York state.
'Lying in wait'
In a televised press conference, Pittsburgh police chief Nathan Harper said it was a "very sad day" for the city.In a televised press conference, Pittsburgh police chief Nathan Harper said it was a "very sad day" for the city.
WEEK OF SHOOTINGS Sat 4 April: Gunman kills three policemen in Pittsburgh before being wounded and capturedFri 3 April: Gunman kills 13 people at an immigration centre in Binghamton, New York state, then apparently shoots himselfSun 29 March: Gunman kills seven elderly residents and a nurse at a nursing home in Carthage, North Carolina, then is shot and wounded himselfSun 29 March: Man kills five relatives and himself in Santa Clara, California
"Our hearts and our prayers go out to the officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice," he said."Our hearts and our prayers go out to the officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice," he said.
Mr Poplawski was armed with two rifles, a pistol and a lot of ammunition, the authorities said.
Mr Harper said the emergency call had been made by the gunman's mother, who had apparently stayed in the basement of the house during the whole incident.
He said the gunman had been "lying in wait", and the first two officers who reached the house were shot in the head as they entered.
Mr Poplawski has been charged with three counts of homicide, aggravated assault and a weapons violation.