An Alexandria police officer is in critical condition after being shot during a traffic stop, which led to a police chase through Fairfax County Wednesday.
The officer, who was on duty and riding his police motorcycle, was involved in a traffic stop on Wilkes Street near Washington Street in Old Town about 11:45 a.m. after a traffic accident in the area. The officer was shot in the upper body after getting off the motorcycle.
Children were on a nearby playground at the time of the shooting, News4's Mark Segraves reported.
Another officer then spotted an Alexandria Yellow Cab believed to be involved on Washington Street, and the man driving that vehicle led police on a chase into the Alexandria section of Fairfax County, where he crashed into another vehicle at Fort Hunt Road and Belle View Boulevard.
Fairfax County Police arrested the man driving the cab.
The injured officer has been airlifted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center with life-threatening injuries.
A person in the other car involved in the second crash was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
There's no word on whether the suspect is a Yellow Cab employee.
Police are not looking for any other suspects at this time.
Fort Hunt Road reportedly will remain closed between Belle View Boulevard and Wake Forest Drive for at least a couple hours, according to police.
Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, which is near the scene of the shooting, is dismissing students at the usual time Wednesday afternoon but at the Gibbon Street entrance due to the police activity.
All students are safe and were kept inside the building for recess, according to Alexandria City Public Schools. The principal contacted parents about the incident and the altered dismissal pattern.
Police ask any witnesses to call the Alexandria Police Department at 703-746-6711.
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Photo Credit: Alexandria Times