Amarillo Police Officer Shoots Suspect At Northwest Texas Hospital

There was a lot of hear-say last night about the shooting that took place in front of Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo.  Amarillo Police have issued an official release on the incident.  An APD officer did open fire in the parking lot of NWTH, due to a suspect the officer was pursuing getting in a vehicle, and the driver of the vehicle attempting to run over the officer.  One of the occupants of the vehicle was shot and sustained non-life threatening injuries.  NWTH is not named in the release, but the address, 1501 S Coulter is given.  According to Google Maps, that's the hospital.

Amarillo Police

Lt. Erick Bohannon - Special Crimes Unit

"On March 18, 2014, officers were dispatched to 1501 S. Coulter on a possible assault.  After the officers arrived, an employee directed their attention to a man leaving the building who was not involved in the originally dispatched assault.  This man was the subject of another investigation that required police involvement.  The officers went to the parking lot to apprehend the man and saw that he was in a vehicle being driven by a female.  One of the officers approached the vehicle as it was exiting the parking lot.  The officer ordered the driver to stop.  The driver revved the engine and drove the vehicle directly at the officer.  The officer fired his weapon at the vehicle and one of the occupants sustained a non-life threatening injury."

The scene was put on lock-down by APD after the shooting around 10:30pm last night.  The release goes on to say...

"The driver of the vehicle was booked into the Potter County Correction Center for the following: Aggravated Assault against a Peace Officer; a warrant for theft by check out of Randall County; and a traffic warrant issued by the City of Amarillo.  She was identified as Leighann Nichole Griffin, WF, age 25."

As the Special Crimes Unit continues to investigate this shooting, they ask for anyone with information to call 378-9468.