Pittsburgh officer, suspect shot

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PITTSBURGH, March 17 (UPI) -- A Pittsburgh police officer was shot in both legs after a traffic stop turned violent Sunday, a police spokeswoman said.

Two police officers were on patrol when they made a traffic stop at 3:43 a.m. in a parking lot in East Liberty, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said.

Four occupants were in the vehicle, the police statement reads, and a passenger in the rear of the vehicle got out of the car and began to flee on foot.

One officer pursued the man, while the other detained the three remaining occupants, the Post-Gazette said.

"When the fleeing (suspect) could not escape, due to being in a fenced in area, the (suspect) turned toward the officer, pulled a weapon, and opened fire. Both officers returned fire."

One of the officers was shot in both legs, and the suspect, identified as Dante Bonner, sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso.

The injured officer is at UPMC Presbyterian in stable condition, and Bonner, 18, is in critical condition, the Post-Gazette said.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review said the injured officer is a two-year veteran of the department, and the other officer is a four-year veteran.