The suspects made it about 50 miles but then saw police setting up a barricade with stop strips, so they pulled over and ran into the woods,
WSOC
reported.
Police found the car with a shotgun inside,
WNCN
reported. Police also found an AK-47 nearby, according to WSOC.
Police searched the area with a helicopter and bloodhounds, WSOC reported. As of Monday morning, no arrests were listed in the shooting.
Three shots hit the police car, but the officer was not hurt, before the suspects in the stolen Lexus made their escape, the department said in a post on Facebook.
"We are very fortunate, very thankful that the officer didn't get struck, or even killed, because
they were using a high-powered rifle
, which is extremely dangerous," Albemarle Police Chief Danny Bowen told WSOC.