A Phoenix police officer was shot and seriously wounded during an early morning Wednesday traffic stop, and the shooter or shooters are on the loose, city police said.
The officer was shot more than once shortly after initiating the traffic stop in central Phoenix around 2:45 a.m., Phoenix police Sgt. Jonathan Howard said, CNN reported. The officer did not return fire.
“Thank goodness he was wearing his (body armor) vest,” police Chief Joseph Yahner told reporters, saying rounds did strike the officer’s armor.
The officer, whose name was not released, was taken to a hospital and remained in serious condition Wednesday morning, but he is expected to recover.
Police said the shooter or shooters fled, but the vehicle involved in the stop was later found abandoned nearby.
Chief Yahner did not specify what the stop was for, or what prompted the shooting. He told reporters investigators were tracking down leads but did not name any suspects.
Sgt. Howard said investigators do not currently have any information linking the shooting on Wednesday to a series of shootings at vehicles along Interstate 10 in Phoenix.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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