Killeen Police Officer Injured During Traffic Pursuit

A Killeen police officer was injured Saturday morning while pursuing a suspect.

The officer attempted to stop a silver Nissan for a traffic violation near Elms Rd. and Ft. Hood St. shortly after 5 a.m. The driver fled westbound onto Stan Schlueter Loop and led the officer through several neighborhoods before coming to a stop at the dead end of Palmtree and Coral Bay. When the officer exited his vehicle, the suspect fled again, striking the officer with the vehicle. Shots were fied by the officer as the vehicle fled west on Coral Bay. The vehicle again came to a stop, and the suspect fled on foot.

A K-9 unit was called in to assist in a search of the area, and a dog found the suspect hiding behind an air conditioning unit at the 3600 block of Coral Bay at 6:11 a.m. The suspect was transported to the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center for treatment of a gunshot wound. He was then airlifted to Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple where he was listed in stable condition. That person's name has not been released pending charges.

The injured officer was transported to Scott & White for treatment and has been released. He has been placed on administrative leave per protocol, and his name is being withheld at this time.

Police continue to investigate the incident and say more information will be released as it becomes available.