Police investigate after Kansas City officer fires into SUV

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Authorities are trying to determine whether a wounded baby was shot in the foot when an officer fired into a sport utility vehicle that had rammed the officer, Kansas City police said Friday.

"It is horrible that an infant was involved and injured in this incident," police said in a news release. "No child ever should be placed in such a dangerous situation."

Police said the officer first encountered the SUV around 9 a.m. Friday when the driver refused to stop for a traffic violation. The officer didn't pursue the SUV, but was rammed upon locating the vehicle about 30 minutes later. Police said the officer, who was on a motorcycle, fired his gun into the SUV "in an attempt to protect himself."

Police said the SUV fled and was next spotted after nearly hitting another officer's vehicle head-on. The SUV then disappeared before it was found unoccupied, with a man, the injured child and another infant nearby.

The child who was hurt was taken to a hospital, and medical personnel told authorities the child's toe injury appeared to be the result of a gunshot wound, police said in a news release.

Officers detained the man found with the children and another man who was walking away from the SUV. The officer who was rammed suffered only minor injuries, police said.

Police spokesman Tye Grant said in an email that the shooting is being investigated. "As of now the only person we know of that was shooting was the officer," Grant said.