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Officer's Bullet-Proof Vest May Have Saved Life In Shooting

By Melissa Garcia

NORTHGLENN, Colo. (CBS4)- A man is in critical condition after an early morning shootout with police at a gas station on Saturday.

The officer-involved shooting happened about 1:10 a.m. Saturday during a traffic stop at W. 112th Ave. and Huron St. in Northglenn. Police say the shooting began with a traffic stop that quickly turned violent.

According to police, one of two men jumped out of the car and started shooting at the officer who had pulled him over.

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The scene of the shooting (credit: CBS)

At least one round struck the officer, who returned fire, shooting the suspect. The officer's bullet proof vest may have saved his life.

"Our officers are required to wear bullet -proof vests, and in this case, we're very glad that he was in compliance," said Renae Lehr, a spokesperson with the Northglenn Police Department.

Both the officer and the suspect were rushed to the hospital. The officer was released and is doing okay. The suspect remains hospitalized in critical condition. Neither the officer nor the suspect have been identified.

Neighbors worry about what seems to be becoming a pattern in their neighborhood.

"Oh, it's nothing new," said Walter Neubauer, who lives just feet away from where shots rang out Saturday. "We had one here last year… a stray bullet could take you out"

Neubauer had startled awake just after 1 a.m. to the sound of gunfire.

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Evidence markers at the scene of the shooting involving a Northglenn police officer (credit: CBS)

"I heard what sounded almost like banging on the window, but it was the gunshots, rapid fire," said Neubauer.

The officer involved in Saturday's shooting is on paid administrative leave. The Adams County Critical Incident Team is investigating.

This is the third officer-involved shooting in Northglenn in the last 12 months.

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The scene of the officer-involved shooting in Northglenn (credit: CBS)

Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.

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