Officer shot and suspect killed after traffic stop in Albany's Pine Hills neighborhood

Update 3:02pm: Bodycam footage of the incident has been released

In the early hours of the morning, a routine traffic stop took a tragic turn in the Pine Hills neighborhood, resulting in an officer shot  and a suspect killed. The incident, which has left the community in shock, unfolded around midnight, Albany police said.  The officer is said to be conscious, alert and doing well after being admitted to Albany Medical Center and undergoing surgery.

During a news briefing this morning Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Albany Police Chief Eric Hawking discussed the events of this morning describing it as an ambush after the officer tried to stop a speeding car. At approximately 12:29 AM, an Albany Police Department officer attempted to stop a vehicle from speeding but abandoned the pursuit, reports state the car may have been going up to 80 mph.

The vehicle was later found parked at the edge of the College of Saint Rose campus in the area of North Main Avenue and Western Avenue.  When the officer approached the vehicle to investigate the suspect exited the vehicle and opened fire striking the officer in his upper leg/hip area.  The officer returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect, who has not been identified. 

This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability and potential danger that law enforcement officers face daily. The community of Albany is left grappling with the loss of a life and the circumstances that led to this unfortunate event.