East Ridge officer stable after shooting; gunman sought in Rossville

East Ridge, Tennessee, police confirmed an officer was shot during a traffic stop in the parking lot of the CVS pharmacy on Ringgold Road Sunday. The Georgia State Patrol located the suspect's vehicle in a subdivision off Paige Road in Rossville, Georgia.  / Staff photo by Rosana Hughes
East Ridge, Tennessee, police confirmed an officer was shot during a traffic stop in the parking lot of the CVS pharmacy on Ringgold Road Sunday. The Georgia State Patrol located the suspect's vehicle in a subdivision off Paige Road in Rossville, Georgia. / Staff photo by Rosana Hughes

East Ridge, Tennessee, police confirmed an officer was shot during a traffic stop in the parking lot of the CVS pharmacy on Ringgold Road around 1:50 p.m. Sunday.

The officer, identified as East Ridge Corporal Terry Prescott, is hospitalized at Erlanger in stable condition, police said.

Chief of police Stan Allen said the assailant jumped out of a red Dodge Challenger with white stripes, fired several shots at the patrol car before Officer Prescott could get out of it and took off in the Challenger.

The Georgia State Patrol located the vehicle in a subdivision off Paige Road in Rossville, Georgia. The suspect, who had already fled on foot before the vehicle was found, was identified by vehicle registration and in-car video as Christopher J. Kitts, 43.

photo Christopher John Kitts / photo courtesy of East Ridge Police Department

As of late Sunday afternoon Kitts was being sought by multiple law enforcement agencies in the area of Paige Road and Lakeview Drive, Allen said.

Authorities said Kitts should be considered armed and dangerous. If you see him, do not approach him but notify the East Ridge Police Department at 423-622-1725 or call 911.

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