COLUMBIA, S.C. --
Columbia police said they shot and killed the person who shot an officer in the chest early Wednesday morning, according to WIS-TV.
WIS-TV is reporting that Chief Randy Scott said the suspect was shot and killed by police near the intersection of Woodrow Street and Blossom Street. Police said the suspect is 22-year-old Blakely Jernigan.
Police identified the officer who was wounded as Alexander S. Broder. They said the young officer had only been patrolling the streets for five days before being shot in the line of duty.
Police spokesman Brick Lewis told WIS-TV Broder was conducting a routine traffic stop near the intersection of King Street and Wilmot Street when Jernigan shot him. Police said they were called about a suspicious vehicle in the area.
The police chief said Jernigan shot Broder as he was approaching the vehicle and then fled the scene.
The officer's bulletproof vest stopped the bullet, according to Lewis. Broder was taken to the hospital, and Lewis said he was doing fine.
Lewis could not provide details about why the officer stopped the vehicle or why the suspect may have fired.
At lest one day care in the area of the shooting opened late because of the search and investigation. Police also closed some streets in the immediate area.
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