A police officer and an armed suspect were shot at a bar on Sunday, Hickory police said in a news release.
Around 2 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to multiple gunshots coming from the area of ​​The Gateway Pub & Grill. The bar is located on Highway 70 Southwest in Hickory.
At the scene, officers found an armed suspect and attempted to arrest him. As they tried to apprehend him, a second armed suspect began shooting at officers, police said.
One officer was shot twice. An assisting officer returned the gunfire, hitting one of the armed suspects, police said. It was not revealed which of the suspects was shot.
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The officer who was shot was taken to a local hospital. They are expected to recover from their injuries, Hickory police said.
The suspect who was shot was flown to a Charlotte hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Channel 9’s Dave Faherty was there Sunday morning and could see officers in the parking lot investigating. Dozens of evidence markers had been laid down.
Customers told Faherty that there were dozens of people at the bar around closing time when someone in the parking lot started firing a gun.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting and the officer who shot the suspect has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome.
Hickory police are investigating the first shooting at the bar.
Anyone with information is asked to call Hickory police at 828-261-2600.
This is a development story. Check back for updates.
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