By Lauren Horsch
The Herald-Sun
DURHAM, N.C. — Police are investigating what they believe to be a deliberate shooting at an officer Wednesday.
The shooting happened just before noon in the area of South Street near Scout Drive.
Police Chief Jose Lopez said the officer was driving on South Street on his way to an unrelated police matter when his unmarked police car was shot at.
Lopez said the car was shot at several times, but only one bullet struck the car. The officer was not hurt. It was unclear Wednesday what type of firearm was used.
Investigators believe shots were fired from a vehicle on Bond Street.
Police have not identified any suspects at this time, Lopez said. However, a general description of the car they were driving as well as clothes they were wearing has been released.
Police believe the car from which the shots were fired was an older model gray sedan, possibly a Nissan, with tinted windows. Investigators said two black men wearing blue and black jackets were in the car.
They also believe both occupants fired shots at the officer.
“We’re currently investigating,” he said. “It appears to be a deliberate act ... they clearly from what I could see were shooting at this vehicle.”
Lopez urged members of the community around the area where the shooting happened to come forward if they had any information about the shooting.
“So far from what we’ve seen, people have been helpful about what they heard (and) saw,” he said. “This is a highly serious situation.”
Police said bullets also damaged houses in the area.
Durham CrimeStoppers is offering a reward for anyone that provides information leading to the arrest of the suspects involved in today’s shooting.
This is the third shooting incident involving three separate Durham police officers since December 2014. On Dec. 25, Officer J.T. West was shot at by two men who approached him while he was sitting in his marked police cruiser. West got out of his car to speak to the men, but before he could speak with them police said the suspects fired six shots.
West fired two shots in return. He was not hit by gunfire, but he sustained a wrist injury.
The second incident occurred on Dec. 29 when an officer’s apartment on Meriwether Drive was shot at. A glass sliding door was shattered, the officer -- who was off duty -- was uninjured.
After those two incidents officers were told to remain vigilant, and Lopez said that feeling still remains.
“I think that fear factor started quite awhile back, I think concern being the major feeling that I have,” Lopez said. We continue to brief and train relative to (these situations).”
Anyone with information about Wednesday’s shooting is asked to call Investigator K. Emanuel at (919) 560-4415, ext. 29306 or CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers do not have to identify themselves.
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