Baltimore Officer in Critical Condition After Shooting
BALTIMOREA Baltimore city police officer is in critical condition after he was shot by a man during an incident that started as a routine traffic stop, according to city police officials. Two local schools were placed on lockdown.
The incident happened in the area of Poplar Grove Street and Lanvale Avenue in the southwestern section of the city at about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Officials told WBAL TV 11 News that when two plain-clothes officers pulled a car over for a routine traffic stop, one man in the car got out and started fist fighting with the officer, then ran.
According to police, one of the officers chased the man, who turned around and fired a shot, striking the officer in the leg. The officer then fired back, shooting the suspect.
Police told 11 News that when additional officers came to render aid to the injured officer, another man started shooting at them. That person has since barricaded himself in a nearby home, officials said.
According to Sky Team 11 Capt. Roy Taylor, Poplar Grove Street was shut down from Edmondson Avenue to a few blocks north of the scene and that there was heavy police presence.
Police are warning people in that area to stay inside their homes.
Alexander Hamilton Elementary School and Calverton Middle School were placed on lockdown due to their close locations to the scene. Officials told 11 News around 4:30 p.m. that Hamilton students were being moved to the Empowerment Academy in the 800 block of Braddish Avenue so parents could pick them up.
Police said the injured officer was taken to Shock Trauma in critical condition. The injured suspect was also taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Officials told 11 News that two bystanders were also shot; however, there is no word on the extent of their injuries