CALIFORNIA – Two plainclothes Los Angeles police officers were shot at Sunday evening while driving through a South L.A. neighborhood, prompting an exchange of gunfire that caused several suspects to scatter, authorities said.

The officers were fired upon near the intersection of 65th Street and Broadway in the Florence neighborhood just before 5:45 p.m., Det. Meghan Aguilar. The officers then returned fire.

It was unclear if the officers were in a marked vehicle at the time of the shooting, but Augilar said they believed they were specifically targeted.

“Of course, because it’s an active scene, that’s our preliminary investigation,” she said. “There’s going to be several thorough interviews of the officers. But right now they believe they were the target.”

Both officers suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

Police apprehended several people at the scene and the search continues for two others in the neighborhood, she said. The LAPD’s SWAT unit was on scene along with dozens of officers. (read more)