A Mississippi police officer is in critical condition after being shot in the head on Sunday as he was investigating an armed robbery call from a convenience store in Clarksdale that was located a few blocks away from City Hall, authorities said.
The shooting reportedly occurred Saturday evening four blocks away from a convenience store the two masked men just finished robbing, Clarksdale Mayor Bill Luckett said, reported NBC's Memphis affiliate WMC-TV. The officer, Cpl. Derrick Couch, had driven up beside the men and began to approach them then they opened fire.
"I've seen the video. It's harrowing," he said. "As soon as the officer approached him, he just swung around and, bam!"
"I'm not sure if Officer Crouch saw him run or not," Luckett continued, according to Reuters. "Then you see the officer's lights turn and illuminate the second guy, who's walking."
The two suspects fled the scene, leaving Couch on the ground until other officers found him. He was immediately rushed to Regional One Health in Memphis where he underwent surgery. As of Sunday, he remains in critical condition and is on a ventilator, has lost one eye, and the bullet remains lodged in his brain.
In the meantime, police are on the hunt for the two suspects responsible for the shooting.
"Surveillance footage released by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations shows one of the suspects had a distinctive walk, and authorities are asking the public for assistance with their identification," police said in a statement, reported NBC News.
Authorities are questioning two potential suspects, one of whom was found to be in possession of "telling evidence" following a police search at his home, but no arrests have been made.
Releasing the details of the incident to the public, Luckett was sure to note that the shooting isn't being treated as a homicide just yet.
"This is not a homicide yet. It would be our first this year if it turns into one," he said. "I can't remember an officer in Clarksdale shot by a suspect."
