Two armed men fatally shot by Baltimore police

BALTIMORE – Baltimore police say two armed men are dead after plainclothes officers opened fire on them when they found the men aiming guns at someone across a street.

Police spokesman T.J. Smith told reporters on the scene Thursday that it’s “likely” that the men were fatally shot by police, but investigators are trying to piece together what happened.

The shooting occurred Thursday afternoon in East Baltimore. Smith says one man was carrying an automatic rifle with a scope and laser that was loaded with at least 20 rounds. He says officers patrolling the area came upon the situation and opened fire on the men.

Smith says the neighborhood where the shooting occurred was the site of a homicide Wednesday night, as well as several nonfatal shootings in the last month.