Maryland Heights officer shot twice doing 'remarkably well'

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MARYLAND HEIGHTS (KMOX) — A Maryland Heights police officer was shot twice in the leg and is expected to make a full recovery after thwarting a car break-in.

It happened in the parking lot of the Bennington Heights Apartments, where two officers were investigating a string of car break-ins. Police Chief Bill Carson called it "good police work," as two suspects were caught in the act and the officers approched them. 

Carson says they identified themselves as officers, then the man turned and opened fire on both officers – that's when one officer was shot twice in the leg. The other officer wasn't hit, returned fire, but missed the suspects. 

The officer is doing "remarkably well" and is expected to make a full recovery, Carson says. 

Other officers who arrived on the scene did arrest the suspects. The suspect's gun has been recovered.  

Wounded @MHPolice officer and partner were staking out parking lots looking for criminals breaking into cars. Picked right one. Suspect shot him twice in leg. Partner shot back but didn’t hit suspect. Suspect & accomplice arrested. Officer doing “remarkably well” @kmoxnews pic.twitter.com/dedDlJMBvF

— Brian Kelly (@Brpkelly) June 20, 2019

The wounded officer is 38-years-old and has been an officer for 14 years, nine with Maryland Heights. 

Police are investigating the case and still trying to determine how many shots were fired, after witnesses tell KMOX they heard about a half dozen.

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