Cleveland police officer remains hospitalized after being shot in the line of duty

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - A 28-year-old Cleveland police detective remains at MetroHealth Medical Center, after being shot twice in the city’s Central neighborhood Tuesday evening.

The Cleveland police union confirmed Officer Mark Bahrijczuk was shot by one of the four suspects.

Cleveland police said the detective was shot in the arm and thigh at close range.

Four suspects involved in the shooting remain on the loose.

According to police, the detective and other officers were in the area of E. 28th Street and Cedar Avenue investigating the ongoing thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles.

At 6:22 p.m., police said the officers saw a Kia Forte with no license plates pull into the parking lot of the Cedar Estates Apartments in the 2300 block of Cedar Ave.

The officers approached the Kia in their zone car and conducted a investigatory stop, said police.

As they approached the Kia, police said four males jumped out and took off running. The Kia continued moving and crashed into a pillar.

The driver of the Kia, pictured below in the orange jacket, fired multiple rounds at the detective as he was exiting his police vehicle, said police. The shooter than ran through Cedar Estates Apartments.

Other Cleveland police officers rendered first aid and applied a tourniquet to the injured detective, before driving him to the hospital.

Three firearms were recovered, said police.

Two officers responding to the shooting scene, were involved in a crash at the intersection of Carnegie Avenue and E. 30th Street.

Both female officers, 49 and 52, were transported to MetroHealth Medical Center with minor injuries, said police.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 216-623-5464.

Anonymous information can be provided by calling Crimestoppers at 216-25-CRIME and a cash reward of up to $5,000.00 may be available.

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