An 18-year-old faces attempted murder charges, accused of wounding an Evansville Police officer. WNIN’s John Gibson has more:
The shooting happened early Sunday when officers spotted a stolen vehicle at the Rally’s at Virginia St. and Fares Ave.
Evansville Police Sgt. Anthony Aussiecker says as officers approached the vehicle, two suspects fled on foot.
While fleeing, Aussiecker says one of the suspects pulled a firearm and
shot at officers, hitting one of them.
Officers returned fire and struck the suspect, identified as 18-year-old Jailani Chew.
The EPD says both the officer and Chew were taken to local hospitals.
The second suspect, a juvenile, fled the scene but was captured later.
In a Facebook post, Police Chief Philip Smith said the officer was in stable condition and he thanked the community for a “huge outpouring of support and prayers for our officer.”
The officer’s name has not been released.
Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry called the shooting “heartbreaking” and said the community must “confront the reality of gun violence and do everything we can as a community to prevent another tragedy like this.”
The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 73 has established a resource committee for the officer’s family.