Lauren Stanforth, Times Union, Albany, N.Y. (TNS)
ALBANY — An Albany police officer was shot and wounded and the suspect was killed early Wednesday morning after a traffic stop in the Pine Hills neighborhood just after midnight, city police say.
The officer is conscious and alert and being treated at Albany Medical Center. Neither the officer nor the suspect’s name have been released.
The incident happened at the corner of North Main and Western avenues at around 12:30 a.m. Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins and Mayor Kathy Sheehan held a 5:30 a.m. Wednesday press conference outside of Albany Med to discuss the shooting.
Hawkins says the officer attempted to stop the vehicle from speeding but ended pursuit during the chase but found the car parked on the edge of The College of Saint Rose campus. As the officer approached, Hawkins says the suspect came out from behind the vehicle and opened fire, wounding the officer. The officer returned fire and mortally wounded the suspect.
“Earlier this morning, an Albany police officer was shot after approaching a vehicle he had previously attempted to stop for traffic violations,” stated a news release from Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s office. “Chief Hawkins has reviewed the body camera footage and based on the chief’s review it is clear this officer was ambushed in an act of depraved gun violence.”
No other officers were on the scene, according to Hawkins.
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