Milwaukee officer shot amid wave of anti-police violence

The 26-year-old officer suffered injuries to the abdomen, chest, and shoulder and was rushed to the hospital "conscious and breathing with serious wounds."

Local outlet Fox 6 Milwaukee's reporter Ben Handelman tweeted Thursday night: "OFFICER SHOT: 21st and St. Paul. Sources tell @fox6now the officer was shot 3 times in shoulder, chest and abdomen. Arrived at hospital conscious and breathing with serious wounds. Suspect stole squad after the shooting but crashed two blocks away. We know a suspect is in custody."

The unidentified officer was sent to investigate a report of a sick or injured person who was spotted by a witness slumped over in a vehicle, the Milwaukee Police Department said in a press release. According to police, when the cop approached the vehicle, the person inside drew a firearm and fired on the unsuspecting officer.

The officer returned fire, and the 22-year-old suspect was also wounded in the shootout, authorities said. The suspect then ran into the officer's vehicle and drove away, the press release said. He then crashed the police car into another vehicle, injuring the other car's driver, who was also taken to hospital. The suspect continued to flee on foot but was apprehended and arrested by police.

The investigation into the case is ongoing.

The shooting came almost a week after an armed suspect opened fire on two NYPD cops, resulting in the high-profile fatal shootings and adding to the growing number of law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty in recent months. Ambush-style attacks on officers have increased since the 2020 riots as anti-police violence surges in major US cities gripped by violent crime. Meanwhile, many of the suspects are re-offenders who were out on probation at the time.