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Officer and suspect critically injured in Phoenix police shooting

There are no outstanding suspects, police said.

PHOENIX — A Phoenix police officer and a suspect are in critical condition after an officer-involved shooting near Cactus and Cave Creek roads in Phoenix Thursday night.

According to police, the officer was trying to stop a vehicle that had been driving erratically when it entered the left turn lane at the intersection of Cactus and Cave Creek roads. The officer tried to get the suspect's attention by asking to see his hands, police said.

The suspect then shot the officer, who, despite the injury, was able to return fire, police said.

According to police, the suspect, a 41-year-old man, exited his car, walked toward the officer and continued to shoot.

Police said the officer was able to shoot the suspect and stop the threat.

Both the officer and the suspect are expected to survive.

Police said the 27-year-old officer has been with the Phoenix Police Department for about two years.

Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams said in her opinion, she believes the officer was ambushed. Chief Williams says this makes the 34th officer-involved shooting of the year in Phoenix.

"Right now, the Phoenix Police Department has a problem with people who are being aggressive towards our officers," Chief Williams said. "They're firing at our officers. They're pointing guns at our officers."

She adds that there is a study coming to research and find the root cause of the issue in the city her department serves.

Chief Williams says this is a very serious issue that Phoenix police are not taking lightly.

"We've had an increase in the number of firearms that have been associated with our officer-involved shootings and a 45 percent increase in the aggravated assault on our officers," Chief Williams said.

Thursday night, she asked for the community's thoughts and prayers for the officer's recovery.

In a news conference late Thursday, Chief Williams also said her officers are constantly training to be able to handle the most unthinkable situations.

"They're cautious, they're concerned, they don't know when they make a traffic stop what's going to happen in that traffic stop," she said. "But at the same time, day in and day out, they get up, they put this uniform on, they put a vest on and they go out and protect our community."

There are no outstanding suspects, police said.

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