By Lauren Walck
The Sun Herald
GULFPORT, Miss. — A routine traffic stop turned violent Sunday morning in Gulfport and an officer is hospitalized with gunshot wounds as a result.
Around 4:20 a.m. two Gulfport Police officers attempted to stop a 2006 Chrysler near the intersection of 42nd Avenue and 20th Street, said Chief Leonard Papania in a press release.
Upon approach, at least two people got out of the car and fled on foot.
One of the officers pursued them and a struggle ensued with one of the suspects near 46th Avenue and 20th Street.
The man had a handgun and shot the officer multiple times in the body. The other officer was able to arrest him, 21-year-old Corey Donald Johnson of Gulfport, without incident.
Johnson was wanted on multiple outstanding warrants. He has been in and out of jail seven times since September 2011 for various charges including resisting arrest, carrying a concealed handgun, possession of cocaine with intent to sell and probation violations.
The injured officer was taken to a hospital, and his name has not been released.
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