Birmingham Police Officer Shot And Killed Outside Nightclub

BIRMINGHAM, AL – A Birmingham police officer was shot and killed and another officer was wounded outside a downtown nightclub early Sunday morning. One man has been arrested and another man – who was shot by police – is hospitalized.

The shooting happened just before 2 a.m. in the 900 block of Fifth Avenue North outside the 4 Seasons Bar & Grill, according to a report by Alabama Media Group. Officers were working a special detail dealing with a rash of car break-ins in that area, when an undercover officer spotted at least two suspects who appeared to be trying door handles to see if they were locked. The officer called for backup, and the sergeant arrived.

The officer and the sergeant approached one suspect and patted him down where they found what they believed to be a weapon, reports say. The officers asked the suspect about it, and he reportedly armed himself and fired upon the officers.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service transported all three shooting victims to UAB Hospital’s Trauma Center. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Patch morning newsletter.)

The officer has been identified as Sgt. Wytasha Carter. Carter was just promoted to the rank of sergeant 11 months ago, and was a husband and father.

“This is one of the roughest hours of your career.” said Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith. “There’s not a chief, not an officer that ever wants to have to deal with this. This is a very very difficult thing for the family, and for the department.”

Smith said he did not immediately know the condition of the suspect who was wounded. The second suspect is under arrest. “We’re not absolutely certain right now if we have one outstanding suspect but we have other possibilities and the investigation is ongoing.”

Dozens of officers are keeping vigil in the emergency room area and later saluted as the mortuary transport van left the hospital.

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