Off-duty Dunn police officer shot while breaking up fight at Fayetteville gas station

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- An off-duty police officer had to be rushed to the hospital after being shot at a Fayetteville gas station on Wednesday morning.

A crew on the scene said the gunshot victim was a Dunn police officer who witnessed a fight on Ramsey Street.

When the off-duty officer tried to step in, he was shot. Dunn Police Department said the incident happened about 10 a.m. and that the officer was later released from the hospital.

He is expected to recover.

"Thank you to everyone who has reached out and shown your support during this event," Dunn Police Chief Cary A. Jackson said in a release. "Please continue to keep our officer and agency in your thoughts and prayers during this time."

The person who pulled the trigger is not in custody, but investigators said they know all of the people who were involved in the shooting.

There were at least 20 evidence markers at the scene and multiple bullet holes in the front of the store.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation.

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Brianna Sanders was at the gas station minutes before the shooting.

"Very, very strange feeling that that happened just after we left. We could have been in the mix of that whole situation," Sanders said.

The shooting has neighbors in the area worried. Darlene Long said she wants to see more officers on patrol.

"I think maybe if one (would) sit in the parking lot for a while, then it'd slow down a whole lot," she said.