'HELL OF A PRICE'
Biden pays tribute to FBI agents shot dead in ambush by child porn suspect who shot them through his closed front door
JOE Biden has paid tribute to two FBI agents who were killed while trying to issue a warrant to a child porn suspect, as more chilling details about the ambush emerge.
Special Agents 36, and Laura Schwartzenberger, 43, were shot dead when they arrived to carry out a search warrant in a “violent crimes against children” case, on a property in , around 6am on Tuesday.
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President Biden paid tribute to the pair later that evening.
"My heart aches for the families," he said in a press briefing.
"I have not had an opportunity, nor will I try today to contact them but they put their lives on the line, and it's a hell of a price to pay."
The gunman, not yet identified by the FBI, is believed to have monitored the approach of the agents with a doorbell camera and ambushed them through the unopened door with a hail of bullets from an assault-style rifle, law enforcement sources told the .
“There are several huge holes in the door going outward,” one law enforcement official said.
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After barricading himself in the home for several hours, the suspected gunman is believed to have shot and killed himself, according to reports.
The FBI had not provided details of the case against the gunman, other than to say he was suspected of possessing illegal graphic images of children. The case was being investigated by the FBI’s Internet Crimes against Children task force, and supervised by prosecutors based in Fort Lauderdale.
Director Chris Wray paid tribute to the agents' "ultimate sacrifice," saying the pair had had "exemplified heroism" in "defense of their country."
The gunfire erupted with about four shots at about 6am, said Julius McLymont, whose house borders the Water Terrace apartment complex.
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He said: “Boom boom boom boom."
McLymont told The Associated Press he thought it was a car backfiring – but heard another volley of about five shots just minutes later.
He went outside and looked over his fence as police cars and ambulances rushed in.
Then he saw officers working on someone lying on the ground, who was then loaded into an ambulance.
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The witness said a SWAT team appeared, with officers wearing riot gear going around the building and yelling, “Go go go.”
One federal law enforcement source said at least five agents were shot during the raid.
Wray said in a statement that the two special agents were shot and killed “in the line of duty” this morning, while executing a federal court-ordered search warrant in a crimes against children investigation.
“Three other agents were shot and wounded; two suffered injuries requiring hospital care, but both are now in a stable condition.
“The third agent did not require hospitalization.”
Wray continued on to say FBI Special Agents put themselves in danger “every day” to keep the American people safe.
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“The FBI will always honor their ultimate sacrifice and will be forever grateful for their bravery.”
“We continue to stand by our FBI family and the families of these special agents, in the days to come, bringing all the resource we can to get through this together.”
US Attorney Larry Keefe added in another statement: "All of us in local, state, and federal law enforcement recognize and honor the daily risk taken by the brave women and men who dedicate themselves to keeping the public safe."
President Joe Biden's press secretary said on Tuesday that Biden had been briefed on what happened.
"This is obviously a terrible tragedy," Jen Psaki told reporters at the White House.
FBI agents were at the home of the suspect, a man suspected of , at 10100 Reflections Blvd.
The child pornography case was being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by federal prosecutors in Fort Lauderdale.
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A medical examiner was spotted arriving at the scene just before 8.30am local time.
The injured officials are believed to be at Broward Health Medical Center.
The scene was secured at around 9.05am, with police urging people to remain indoors while investigations continue.
Roads in the local area were shut to traffic on Tuesday, police also advised.
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Sunrise Police tweeted: "Neighborhoods along Nob Hill Rd, between NW 44th St and W Oakland Park Blvd. are currently unable to leave their communities due to the traffic shutdown on Nob Hill Rd.
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"We will update as soon as traffic opens up. Thank you for your understanding."
The city of Sunrise is located around 10 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale in South Florida.
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