A Birmingham, AL, police officer was shot and critically wounded while responding to a robbery on Sunday morningl, reports WBMA.

Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith said the officer, identified as narcotics detective John Finke, was off duty and working security at Church of the Highlands when a call came in about a robbery in the area.

Det. Finke responded to the call and was shot twice in the stomach and once under the arm when he confronted the suspects, Chief Smith said. He added that it appeared the officer "may have observed the robbery in progress" and responded.

Smith said Finke was not wearing a ballistic vest, and the bullets struck his "vital organ areas." The officer is currently in critical condition. He had undergone one surgery and was expected to undergo at least one more surgery Monday.