PITTSBURG — A Pittsburg police officer and a man suspected of a felony were both shot and wounded during a struggle inside the police department Thursday afternoon, forcing a shutdown of both City Hall and the adjoined police station, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
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The officer, who was not publicly identified, was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The man who allegedly shot him was also taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound to his ankle, authorities said. A third person was reportedly injured during a scuffle inside a police holding cell that followed the shooting.
Sources say the suspect, identified only as a 31-year-old man, was somehow able to sneak a gun into the holding cell after his arrest, and discharged it when an officer came in to transport him to county jail. The man’s name was not released.
Both the officer and the suspect are expected to survive. The officer underwent successful surgery Thursday evening, authorities said.
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The incident prompted a third-party investigation by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, which is typical for police shootings with death or serious injuries.
By 5 p.m. Thursday, the police station and City Hall were partitioned off with crime scene tape. City staff seen exiting the building didn’t respond to inquiries. A news release from the city says the shooting occurred during the booking process before the man was transferred to county jail.
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