January 25th, 2021 - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Published January 25th, 2021

A Tuscaloosa, AL police officer is recovering from minor injuries after being shot in the chest by an armed assailant on Monday afternoon.

At approximately 3:45 p.m., Tuscaloosa officers responded to a report of an individual openly displaying a firearm at an apartment complex. Upon arrival, the officers approached the individual, who did not comply with instructions to drop the weapon and fled on foot to a nearby golf course. During the pursuit, the individual opened fire on both officers, striking one in the torso. The officer was wearing a ballistic-resistant vest and suffered only minor bruising to his ribs. The other officer suffered a minor injury not related to the exchange of gunfire. Both officers were treated and released from a local hospital.

The suspect was also shot during the exchange of gunfire and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. He was taken into custody, and likewise treated at a local hospital. He was charged with three counts of attempted murder and was also found to have an outstanding arrest warrant in Mississippi for assault with a deadly weapon charges.