Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek speaks to reporters Wednesday. Authorities say two police officers in the Des Moines, Iowa, area were shot to death in ambush-style attacks about two miles apart. Scott McFetridge/AP
Two police officers in the Des Moines, Iowa, area were shot and killed early Wednesday as they sat in their squad cars.
"The shootings appear to have been ambush-style attacks," police spokesman Paul Parizek said in a statement.
The first shooting happened shortly after 1 a.m. local time, police say, and the second about 20 minutes later.
The two officers were sitting in squad cars about three miles away from each other — one in Des Moines proper and one in Urbandale, a Des Moines suburb. The two officers did not appear to have interacted with each other before the shooting.
Authorities say they are "developing suspect information" but have not released any information on a suspect.
"Parizek was emotional during a news conference," The Associated Press reports. "He says there is 'clearly danger' right now for police officers in the area because the officers were gunned down while sitting in their cars doing nothing wrong. He says the department has doubled up its officers to better protect them."