Fayetteville Police vehicle, citizen's vehicle hit by gunfire

FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- Early Saturday morning, an unmarked Fayetteville Police vehicle and a citizen's vehicle were struck by bullets on Bragg Boulevard near Shannon Drive.

Authorities said just before 2 a.m., Sergeant M. Smith was driving when she heard the shots fired, and the sound of a bullet striking her vehicle. Smith saw two light-colored sedans traveling on Bragg Boulevard, so she activated her emergency equipment and tried to stop the sedans. One of the two cars fled, and Smith initiated a police pursuit.

FPD officers in marked cars joined the chase, and Smith stopped pursuing in her unmarked car, per department policy. The officers chased the sedan through town and were able to obtain the suspect vehicle's license plate, police said.

The officers stopped the chase on Gillespie Street near Black an Decker Road due to the suspect's reckless driving and danger to the public.

Smith's police vehicle was struck by one round that entered the driver's door and a couple of ricochet fragments that struck the rear driver's side door. Smith was unharmed.

Detectives have obtained an image of the suspect vehicle that fled. It is a pearl white, 1998, Lincoln Town Car, with aftermarket rims, bearing NC license plate DJZ-7134.

Detectives with the FPD's Aggravated Assault Unit are asking for the public's assistance with locating this vehicle and the driver. If anyone sees this vehicle they should consider the occupants armed and dangerous and call 911 immediately. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

Anyone with information regarding this shooting investigation is asked to contact Detective Freeborough with the Fayetteville Police Department at (910) 703-1301 or Crimestoppers at (910) 483-TIPS (8477). Crimestoppers information can also be submitted electronically, by visiting http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org and completing the anonymous online tip sheet or by text-a-tip on your mobile device by sending a message to 274637 (in the text box type "4Tip" followed by your message).