CNN
(CNN) — A Minneapolis police officer sitting in his patrol car was shot Saturday morning, and Police Chief Janee Harteau said “there is little doubt that an officer was the intended target.”
The wounded officer was one of two who had just finished responding to a reported burglary when he was shot just before 5 a.m. (6 a.m. ET), Minneapolis police said in a statement. His partner promptly drove him to a nearby hospital, where he was in stable condition later Saturday morning.
“The chief is now with this officer and his family is with him, as well,” police spokesman Scott Seroka told CNN. “He is doing OK.”
At that point, authorities were searching the area but did not have anyone in custody in connection with the shooting. Seroka declined to offer details on what he called “the suspect.”
Authorities believe the wounded officer wasn’t targeted personally, but was shot simply because he is a police officer, Seroka added.
According to Harteau, he “just happened to be the one who was there.”
“This is a reminder to all that every one of our officers face such danger simply because they choose to wear a uniform,” Harteau said. “They deserve our support and gratitude.”
The-CNN-Wire
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