UPDATE: The suspect was shot and killed by officers in an exchange of gunfire. Read more here: Police: Suspect intended to 'ambush' officers in Kalamazoo shooting
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - A Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officer was shot in downtown Kalamazoo Tuesday morning.
Around 11:30 a.m. officers were dispatched to the 100 block of East Kalamazoo Avenue on reports of shots fired. According to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety an officer was shot and injured, but expected to fully recover. He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
According to Shakespeare's Pub, a restaurant in the area of the shooting, there was a heavy police presence in the area surrounding the Grifols Biomat USA plasma donation center.
The restaurant stayed closed throughout the afternoon to protect employees and customers.
"I saw people taking cover behind cars in the parking lot, and then more police show up," said Andrew Hageman, a bartender at Shakespeare's Pub. "It was pretty intense, a lot crazier than I’d expect on a normal Tuesday."
Kalamazoo Gospel Mission was also placed on lock down during the incident.
Pastor Joseph Anderson with Pastors on Patrol was at the scene of the shooting talking to people who were in the building and trying to console them.
"There was a lot of crying and a lot of scared people, but I stayed there, I prayed with them and I went individually to everyone that was located on the bus just to talk them and try to calm them down," he said. "The ones that saw things going on, they were really shaken up."
The City of Kalamazoo shut down Kalamazoo Avenue at Harrison Street to all traffic, although police say there is no active threat to the community.
Circumstances surrounding the incident are still being investigated however there will be a press conference at 4 p.m. at the KDPS headquarters. 13 ON YOUR SIDE will bring you more information as it becomes available.
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