Two sheriff’s deputies were killed in a shootout with a suspect in a county in the state of Missouri in the central United States.

Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole said in a press statement that the incident occurred during a traffic stop south of Highlandville in southwestern Missouri. The suspect’s truck was later found several kilometers to the south near the city of Reeds Spring.

Cole noted that the suspect opened fire, killing the county sheriff’s deputy at the scene, while the other deputy died in hospital from gunshot wounds sustained during an exchange of fire with the suspect. Three other individuals were also injured.

Law enforcement officers returned fire, killing the suspect, he added.

Shooting incidents are among the most prominent security and social crises in the United States, which experiences high rates of violent crime involving firearms.