President Obama delivered a short but significant statement after three police officers were fatally shot in Baton Rouge, LA [1], this morning. The prime suspect, a 29-year-old man identified as Gavin Long [2], was killed by officers at the scene, confirmed officials. Obama called the tragedy an attack "on all of us" but also urged the country to come together in peace.

Watch @POTUS [3] give remarks on the attack on law enforcement in Baton Rouge: https://t.co/5I4OiRLJtI [4]

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 17, 2016 [5]

"Everyone, right now, focus on words and actions that can unite this country rather than divide it further," he said. "We need to temper our words and open our hearts — all of us." Obama also pleaded for citizens to set an example for children. "Only we can prove that we have the grace and character and common humanity to end this senseless violence."

On July 5, a black man named Alton Sterling was killed by police [6] in Baton Rouge outside a convenience store. Two days later, five police officers were killed in Dallas during a sniper attack at a Black Lives Matter protest.