As reported by Justin Dennis with Fox 8 News, a police officer fired shots at a stolen vehicle after a passenger appeared to draw a gun during a confrontation. The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. at the Walgreens on 520 Broadway Ave. Deputy Chief Rick Suts reported that the stolen car had parked in the lot, and a back-seat passenger exited. The officer, attempting to block the vehicle and order the driver to turn it off, observed the front-seat passenger pulling a firearm from his waistband. In response, the officer fired twice at the vehicle as it drove away.
There is no indication that anyone in the vehicle was hit by the gunfire, and local hospitals have been asked to notify police if a gunshot wound patient arrives. The officer involved sustained a minor injury and received treatment at a hospital. Following department protocol for officer-involved shootings, the officer is currently on leave pending an investigation.
Notably, the officer’s body-worn and dashboard cameras were not recording during the incident because the officer did not activate his lights or sirens.
