By Associated Press
Hoover, AL – A Hoover police officer who confronted three armed robbers and exchanged fire with them in a parking lot shootout has been honored by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
The organization had named Chris Hunter officer of the month in February 2006 and honorees from all 12 months were given their awards yesterday in a ceremony in Washington.
Hunter shot one of the suspects in the leg during the 2005 incident, which led to all three gunmen being caught, convicted and sentenced to more than 72 years in prison.
He said he was patrolling near a C-V-S pharmacy when a woman alerted him that there was a robbery in progress. He was in the parking lot when the gunmen left the store wearing bandannas over their faces. More than 40 rounds were fired; Hunter said 26 of the rounds fired were his.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)