GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA– Two police officers were shot Wednesday while responding to a shooting at a business in the city that is home to the University of Florida, but did not suffer life-threatening injuries, officials said.
Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya said in a press conference that the two officers were ambushed while the suspect was trying to leave a commercial area in Gainesville, Florida, crowded with rush hour traffic, where he shot someone in a nearby lumber yard, killing him.
The officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, leading to his death. One officer was injured in his arm and the other in his leg. The police chief said they were being treated at a nearby hospital and were expected to make a full recovery.
“Their heroism and actions not only neutralized a person who intended to commit murder, but also ensured the safety of the rest of our people,” Moya said. “The community is not in danger at this time due to anything related to this incident.”
The suspect or murder victim was not immediately identified by authorities. While there was “clear intent” by the suspect to harm the homicide victim, detectives are still investigating the motive behind the fatal lumber yard shooting, according to the police chief.