Gary police officer shoots driver who allegedly tried to run him over

GARY, Ind. (WLS) -- A police officer in Gary, Ind., shot a driver near West 15th Avenue and Colfax Street around midnight.

Shots were fired in the area moments before the officer was sent to check out a suspicious car, police said. The officer involved told authorities that as he approached a man in a car the driver accelerated toward him and tried to run him down with his vehicle.

Police said that's when the officer opened fire and struck the man. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition. He was later transferred to a Chicago hospital, where he is listed in serious but stable condition.

Authorities have not released the suspect's name, his age or where he was wounded.

Police said the officer is a 10-year veteran of the force. The officer was not injured.

The Lake County Sheriff's Department is investigating the shooting.

There is no video of the incident because the Gary Police Department does not use body cameras or equip its squad cars with dashboard cameras.