COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A shoplifting suspect rammed an undercover officer's vehicle outside a popular department store and the officer opened fire, police said.
NBC 4 has been on the story since Tuesday night and had an update Wednesday morning.
CPD received a report of a shoplifter at Kohl’s on South Hamilton Road around 8:55 p.m. Tuesday night.
A plain-clothes CPD officer, who was later identified as Officer Bret Bodell, was nearby and responded, according to police.
CPD said Bodell observed a suspicious vehicle, set up surveillance and waited for uniformed officers to arrive.
Moments later, the officer saw the suspect, later identified as Homer Hendrix III, running from the store with merchandise, a police report said.
Hendrix jumped into a parked vehicle in the lot, and Bodell attempted to block the vehicle in, according to police.
Police said Hendrix put his vehicle into reverse and purposely rammed the officer’s vehicle repeatedly.
Bodell fired his service weapon and struck the suspect in the shoulder.
"It's been proven. A vehicle can be used as a deadly weapon. It's killed officers in the past, and if in fact, this vehicle was being used as a weapon and [the suspect] was ramming that car, then the officer will be justified," CPD Sgt. Rich Weiner said.
Hendrix was transported to Grant Medical Center in stable condition.
He was being charged with robbery and attempted felonious assault, according to the police report.
Bodell received minor injuries from the vehicle collision.
The shooting remained under investigation.
Bodell has been with CPD for 17 years and is currently assigned to the Strategic Response Bureau Enforcement Section.
For additional information on this developing story, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
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