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Florida officer shot in the face, suspect killed in shootout

Posted at 8:23 PM, Jul 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-26 09:01:15-04

Authorities say a police officer fatally shot a bank robbery suspect who shot him in the face as the two exchanged fire after a car chase Tuesday afternoon.

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Director Mike Bruno said K-9 Officer Jeremy Mason was shot in the chin while chasing bank robbery suspect Michael Joseph Harris.

Bruno says officers had been patrolling Jacksonville's Westside, searching for a man suspected of robbing two banks earlier this week. He says officers spotted the suspect, Harris, getting into a car, and a woman driver speeding away.

Bruno said Harris got out of the car after a 2-mile (3-kilometer) pursuit and exchanged fire with the officer. Bruno said Mason was awake and able to speak at the hospital.