[Gateway Pundit] A Baltimore police officer is in critical condition after being ambushed and shot while sitting in a patrol vehicle early Thursday, authorities say.Dr. Thomas Scalea said at a briefing outside the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Shock Trauma Center that the officer was shot multiple times and was on life support, The Baltimore Sun reports.
Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said the officer was on duty but not responding to a call in the Curtis Bay area of southern Baltimore about 1:30 a.m. when the shooter approached from behind and opened fire and the officer’s vehicle accelerated and crashed.
Officers responding to a report of a crash found the officer, who appeared to be suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds, then worked to get the wounded officer to Shock Trauma as quickly as possible, police said in a news release. The officer, who was not immediately identified by name or gender, was listed in "guarded condition," police said.
"This was a cowardly, brazen act to walk up and open fire on a police officer who was doing what we asked that officer to do — to go out to protect and serve," Harrison said in a statement. "Our prayers are with the officer’s family. We are determined to find those responsible for this heinous crime and will not rest until we do."