SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Police confirmed a shooting took place in downtown Spokane this Sunday morning involving a police officer.
According to the Spokane Police Department (SPD), the shooting happened on South Cedar Street and West 1st Avenue just after 11 a.m.
According to a press release from SPD, authorities found the man in a vehicle, then proceeded to block the suspect vehicle with emergency lights on to block the man from running away.
Police claimed the man then emerged from a car in downtown Spokane with a handgun. SPD claims the man fired at officers, and then officers then exchanged gunfire with the shooter.
The man was struck by gunfire by multiple Spokane Police officers and attained life-threatening injuries to the chest. Officers aided the man after he was injured. The subject was transported to a local hospital where he is currently in surgery.
An officer was also grazed by the shooter in the head during the gunfire exchange and was then transported to a nearby hospital. The officer has since been released.
The officer is expected to make a full recovery. There is no word on the man's condition.
Police claim there were other people in the car with the shooter. There are no details on their relation to the man in the vehicle.
SPD was working on a joint investigation with the Drug Enforcement Agency. According to authorities, SPD, SWAT, Special Investigations Unit, and Violent Crimes Task Force contacted the subject at the site of the shooting before the altercation began.
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
The investigation is active and the Spokane Independent Investigative Response Team (SIIR) will lead the investigation.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is available.
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