7 officers injured in police chase in connection with drive-by shooting

Authorities said seven police officers were injured and three suspects were taken into custody in a high-speed chase that ended in a multi-vehicle crash in Washington state on Friday.

The accident occurred near the intersection of North Oak Street and West Carlisle Avenue in Spokane, police said.

All people involved in the crash, including the suspects, were taken to a nearby hospital with injuries, Acting Spokane Police Chief Justin Lundgren told reporters during a news conference after the crash.

According to Lundgren, all officers are expected to make a full recovery. The condition of the suspects is not yet known, said Lundgren.

In addition, a dog that was in the pursuing police vehicle was taken to an emergency veterinary hospital, Lundgren said. He said the dog is expected to make a full recovery.

Explaining how the chase began, Lundgren said Spokane police began pursuing the suspect vehicle around 1 p.m. local time when authorities executed an unrelated search warrant.

Lundgren said an officer recognized a suspicious vehicle that was allegedly involved in a drive-by shooting that occurred several days earlier.

According to Lundgren, officers initiated a pursuit of the suspect vehicle through a residential area because he noticed the car was traveling at high speed.

As the suspect vehicle attempted to pass through an intersection, it collided with an accompanying armored police vehicle, resulting in an accident, Lundgren said.

A pursuing police vehicle then drove into the suspect’s vehicle, said Lundgren.

No one was killed in the pursuit, said Lundgren. He added that a civilian vehicle approached the armored car from behind but fortunately stopped in time.

Officials said the intersection will be closed for several hours for the investigation.