UDPATE: Officer-Involved Shooting reported in Atwater

An Atwater police officer was injured this morning, apparently after his vehicle was “rammed” during a vehicle pursuit that ended when police opened fire and shot one person, police have reported.

The pursuit began around 8 a.m. when a black Chevrolet Silverado was seen speeding in the area of Shaffer Road in Atwater. Officers pursued the vehicle into Winton and the vehicle pulled over briefly at one point before speeding away again, Lt. Samuel Joseph said.

An Atwater police officer suffered minor injuries when his vehicle was struck by the suspect’s vehicle, police said.

As the vehicle approached the railroad tracks in the area of Sante Fe and Olive in Atwater, a police officer used his vehicle to strike the suspect’s vehicle and end the chase, police said.

An Atwater police officer got out of his patrol vehicle, and shouted orders at the male driver of the Chevrolet, police said.

“The suspect then drove directly at the officer and the officer opened fire to protect himself,” Joseph said.

The suspect, whose name was not released, was struck at least once by gunfire and taken to a Modesto hospital for treatment.

This is the second officer-involved shooting of the year in Atwater.

Officers from the California Highway Patrol and Merced County Sheriff’s deputies assisted in the pursuit. The Sheriff’s Office will conduct the officer-involved shooting investigation, police said.

This story will be updated.

This story was originally published December 3, 2015 at 9:40 AM with the headline "UDPATE: Officer-Involved Shooting reported in Atwater."