NORWICH, CT (WFSB) -
A Norwich police officer was forced to open fire after a man drove his car at his mother and the officer in the parking lot at William Backus Hospital, according to police.
Officials said hospital security found a distraught man inside a vehicle in the parking lot around 6:30 a.m. and attempted to get him to exit the vehicle and enter the hospital.
Connecticut State Police Lt. J. Paul Vance said Norwich police officers responded to the scene and parked their vehicles to block the man's vehicle.
The man's mother also arrived at the scene to help diffuse the situation.
While officers were speaking with the man inside his vehicle, state police said the man suddenly backed his vehicle up into one of the police cruisers. Then, without warning, the man drove his vehicle directly at police officers and his mother.
The police officer, who was not identified, pushed the woman out of the way to safety and was then struck by the vehicle's side mirror as he drew his gun and opened fire, hitting the vehicle and the man inside.
"He went directly at the officer. The officer pushed the mother out of the way and fired two rounds in an effort to stop the vehicle," said Norwich Police Chief Louis Fusaro. "He did stop the vehicle."
The unidentified man was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, and the police officer was treated for the injury he sustained after being hit by the vehicle. The officer has since been released from the hospital.
State police major crimes detectives said they arrived at the scene and interviewed several witnesses. The investigation is ongoing at this time.
Patients and visitors said they will never forget the incident.
"I'm sure it'll always be in the back of my mind, there was a shooting at the hospital up on the hill," said Katie Morris, who was visiting the hospital on Tuesday.
Copyright 2012 WFSB (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
