FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A Fort Worth, Texas, police officer was in serious condition Wednesday after a shootout with a suspect, the police department said.
Officer John Bell, a 20-year veteran of the department, sustained multiple gunshot wounds Tuesday during a search for a suspect in Haltom City, Texas.
Cpl. Joe Hackfield, spokesman for the Haltom City police, said the incident began when a patrol officer from his city's police department attempted to stop a vehicle during a narcotics investigation.
A car chase ensued, the driver later abandoning his vehicle, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. Bell and another Fort Worth police officer were in the area visiting a car parts store when they learned Haltom City police were searching for the suspect.
"A moment later an employee (of the store) came up and said a suspect was in the rear of the business," said Fort Worth Police spokeswoman Sharron Neal. "When they (Bell and the other officer) went there they were fired upon, at which time they we returned fire."
The unidentified suspect was wounded in the shooting and later died of his injuries, the newspaper reported.
Bell was scheduled to undergo surgery at Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital.
"Officer Bell is in good spirits with his family at his side," the Fort Worth police Department reported Wednesday on its Twitter page.
