A Mobile, AL, police officer was shot in both legs while trying to apprehend a murder suspect Monday afternoon.
The Mobile Police Department reports officers responded to the report of a person shot around 6:45 p.m. and found a 31-year-old man with a life-threatening gunshot wound. Mobile County EMS responded to the scene and later pronounced the victim deceased.
Police say the preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, Zackery Hannah, 20, had been involved in an altercation earlier in the day at the exact location and shot into an occupied vehicle. That earlier incident had not been reported to police.
Later, Hannah got into an altercation with the victim and a female on the scene when Hannah attempted to shoot the female and intentionally shot and killed the male victim, according to police.
Hannah, armed with a shotgun, fled on foot into the woods. Officers set up a perimeter and encountered the suspect on multiple occasions.
On the first encounter, officers gave him verbal commands to surrender when he fired a shot and retreated into the wooded area.
Shortly after that, officers again encountered Hannah and gave him verbal commands to drop the weapon. Police say he refused to comply and pointed the weapon at officers. Both officers and the suspect engaged in gunfire.
Police report Hannah fired at least one round striking an officer in the lower portion of both legs. He then again retreated into the wooded area.
Again, officers encountered the gunman and ordered him to drop his weapon, but he refused and pointed the gun at an officer. Officers then engaged in gunfire with the suspect, who fired a round at officers during that encounter.
Hannah was struck multiple times, and the canine was deployed to assist in the apprehension. The suspect was transported to a local hospital under guarded custody while being treated for injuries sustained during this incident.
Police say he will be charged with murder, seven counts of attempted murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, causing physical harm of a police animal, menacing, and attempting to elude law enforcement officers.
The officers will be placed on administrative leave with pay during the initial phase of the investigation. No further information has been released about the wounded officer.
