Rape suspect kills police officer

A vagrant wanted for questioning in a rape overpowered an American police officer who was trying to handcuff him, then shot her to death with her own gun, according to police.

Officer Nicola Cotton, 24, approached the suspect in her squad car and began questioning him, New Orleans police said.

When she tried to handcuff him he attacked her, and a seven-minute fight ensued, Police Superintendent Warren Riley said.

The officer managed to use her radio during the struggle to call for backup, but the man grabbed her weapon and shot her repeatedly, Mr Riley said.

Mr Riley said police have several witnesses to the shooting in a car park near a busy intersection in the crime-plagued Central City neighbourhood and a few streets away from the district police station.