Two Officers Shot Outside of Ferguson Police Department During Protest: Police

Two police officers were shot outside the Ferguson Police Department during protests on Wednesday night, St. Louis County Police confirmed early Thursday.

Officers were reportedly searching for the shooter late Wednesday. Police sources described the shooting as an “ambush,” according to KMOV-TV reporter Laura Hettiger.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said an officer from St. Louis County was shot in the shoulder and an officer from Webster Groves was shot in the face. He said the officers "were shot just because they were police officers."

Belmar described their injuries as "very serious," while other police sources said both cops were expected to live.

The moment that the officers were shot was reportedly captured on video as someone was live streaming (Warning: content will be disturbing to some viewers):

Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

Ferguson Mayor James Knowles announced that Police Chief Tom Jackson was resigning earlier on Wednesday. At least two protesters were arrested prior to the shooting after skirmishes reportedly broke out among different factions of demonstrators.

Two @SaintLouCo police officers were shot outside the #Ferguson PD shortly after midnight. Gathering more info. Conditions not known.

— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) March 12, 2015

Officers with guns drawn. Ferguson PD. pic.twitter.com/sAfCvLSePv

— deray mckesson (@deray) March 12, 2015

"@JLNewsAlert BREAKING PHOTO: Ferguson police carrying away shot officer with guns drawn. (@wyze43) pic.twitter.com/OstRXlWrPf"

— ARnews 1936 (@ARnews1936)

March 12, 2015

Two officers shot in Ferguson. First ambulance leaving from scene. pic.twitter.com/ihWLYzuwQX

— Bob Hoehn (@bobhoehn_stl) March 12, 2015

Second officer being loaded into ambulance. pic.twitter.com/BVwvla7azO

— Bob Hoehn (@bobhoehn_stl) March 12, 2015

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