Officer shot dead was 'ambushed,' Alabama mayor says

An Alabama community is in mourning after a young police officer was gunned down in the line of duty.

The slain police officer, Nick O'Rear, was a father of two and had a third child on the way, said Kimberly Mayor Bob Ellerbrock.

O'Rear was helping a neighboring community with a car chase on Interstate 65 Tuesday night when he was "ambushed" and shot, Ellerbrock said at a Wednesday news conference.

O'Rear was rushed to a Birmingham hospital but his wounds were fatal.

Kimberly is located about 20 miles north of Birmingham.

A suspect is in custody and is being held on no bond, Ellerbrock said. Capital murder charges are pending, the mayor said.

O'Rear had been a member of the Kimberly Police Department for about one year, the mayor said.

"Alabama has lost another brave officer whose end of watch came too soon while protecting and serving his community," tweeted Jay Town, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. "We all mourn during this tragic time for this officer, his family, and the Kimberly PD."

"The violence against law enforcement is maddening," Town added.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said she spoke with the slain officer's family Wednesday morning.

"His sacrifice will never be forgotten," she said in a statement.