An officer was in his patrol vehicle at the station doing paperwork. A car pulled up next to him and fired multiple incendiary rounds into the car’s driver door, injuring the officer. The officer was taken to the hospital, treated, and is now recovering from his injuries at home. But it could have been much worse. The incendiary rounds didn’t have the penetrating power that other shotgun ammunition does, which may have saved the officer’s life according to some reports. Below is a picture of the damage.
The man who shot the officer was spotted carrying a shotgun around his apartment complex before this incident.
After the incident, a chase ensued, and shots were exchanged. Then the suspect and officers were in a car crash, and gunfire was exchanged again. The coroner’s office reported that the suspect died from a gunshot to the head, and ruled it a suicide.
I cannot imagine what it would be like at the wrong end of the incendiary shotgun blasts. From the video, it didn’t look like the officer had a lot of time to react, plus I’m it is common for people to seek out police in their vehicles to talk to them. Situational awareness is important, but I’m unsure what could have been done to prevent this incident.
