Alabama Officer Shot Multiple Times Chasing Robbery Suspect

An Alabama police officer was shot and wounded and a suspect was killed after an armed robbery at a convenience store in downtown Birmingham turned into a deadly shootout Wednesday night.

Officers responding to reports of an armed robbery in progress said they saw a man who matched the description of the suspect involved fleeing the area. Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith told reporters the officers encountered the man and attempted to stop him when he pulled out a handgun and began firing, reports Fox News .

The suspect fired several rounds and struck Officer Cullen Stafford "multiple times."

Stafford was seriously injured. He underwent surgery Wednesday night and is expected to recover, reports WVTM . He turned 36 Thursday while in the hospital.

The suspect continued to engage officers at multiple locations and he was eventually fatally shot.