.and dude had sum good aim...............Two Long Beach police officers were wounded Friday by a man who unleashed a barrage of gunfire during a traffic stop, sending downtown shoppers scurrying for cover.
Police Chief Anthony W. Batts said the two officers had stopped a sport utility vehicle at 6th Street and Long Beach Boulevard about 1:30 p.m. and stepped out of their patrol car when the driver jumped out and fired at least half a dozen shots.
The officers returned fire and the suspect fled, officials said.
Other officers loaded their wounded colleagues into police cars and drove them to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, where Batts said they underwent surgery.
"They're putting up a good fight," the chief said. "They're fighting a good battle."
Department sources said a rookie officer suffered four wounds to the neck. His partner, a veteran training officer, was shot in the face but, officials said, the bullet appeared to have missed his brain.
Scores of officers with guns drawn cordoned off a swath of downtown Long Beach as they searched for the gunman, who was described as Latino or Filipino, 5 feet 7, up to 230 pounds, with a shaved head and tattoos on his arms.
Police Chief Anthony W. Batts said the two officers had stopped a sport utility vehicle at 6th Street and Long Beach Boulevard about 1:30 p.m. and stepped out of their patrol car when the driver jumped out and fired at least half a dozen shots.
The officers returned fire and the suspect fled, officials said.
Other officers loaded their wounded colleagues into police cars and drove them to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, where Batts said they underwent surgery.
"They're putting up a good fight," the chief said. "They're fighting a good battle."
Department sources said a rookie officer suffered four wounds to the neck. His partner, a veteran training officer, was shot in the face but, officials said, the bullet appeared to have missed his brain.
Scores of officers with guns drawn cordoned off a swath of downtown Long Beach as they searched for the gunman, who was described as Latino or Filipino, 5 feet 7, up to 230 pounds, with a shaved head and tattoos on his arms.
