Baton Rouge police arrested three young people who they say were organizing a "credible" attempt to kills officers in the Louisiana capital.
Law enforcement said Tuesday during a press conference that the suspects had planned a Dallas-style attack against police using guns stolen from a local pawn shop, CBS News reported.
The suspects—a 13-year-old juvenile, 17-year-old Antonio Thomas, and 20-year-old Malik Bridgewater—were arrested in connection to the pawn shop theft.
"We can’t take anything for granted any more," East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said. "What you saw in the [police] response is because of the very real and viable threats against law enforcement. Look what happened in Dallas. A very peaceful protest and then some crazy madman."
The incident occurred a week after two white officers fatally shot Alton Sterling, a black man, outside of a Baton Rouge convenience store. The shooting was captured on cellphone video.
Police said one of the suspects conceded he had planned the attack in response to Sterling’s death. A fourth suspect may still be at large.
Eight handguns were stolen from the pawn shop, six of which have been recovered, according to authorities.
Police are on high alert following the assault Thursday evening in Dallas, Texas, where a sniper gunned down five officers following a peaceful protest on police-involved shootings.