Police: Bystander Injured in Shootout Between Va. Officer, Suspected Robber

The suspect who robbed a jewelry store is still at large, police say

Fairfax County police said an innocent bystander was shot when gunfire was exchanged between a man who robbed a jewelry store and an officer on Saturday.

About 12:22 p.m., officers responded to a report of an "unknown situation" at 7041 Brookfield Plaza in Springfield, Virginia, police said.

Officers discovered there was an armed robbery in progress at the Dubai Jewelers store.

An officer confronted the robber when he left the jewelry store and the suspect fired a handgun at him, police said. The officer returned fire, and a bystander was shot during the exchange, police said.

The bystander was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said. Their condition has since been upgraded, and police said their injuries are considered non-life threatening.

Police said it appears the bullet that struck the bystander was fired by the robber.

The man managed to get into a parked car and flee the scene before crashing the car at Spring Village Drive and Hampton Creek Way, police said.

He then carjacked someone's vehicle, fled again and crashed the vehicle in the 7600 block of Hooes Road before fleeing on foot, police said.

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Darcy Spencer/NBC Washington

No one was injured during the carjacking, police said.

Police advised residents in the area to stay indoors but have lifted the shelter-in-place. They said anyone who sees anything suspicious should call police immediately.

The robber is described as a black man who is 20 to 30 years old and was last seen wearing all brown clothing and a brown hat. Police said he may have changed his clothes.

Brookfield Plaza was shut down, but businesses reopened outside the crime scene, police said.

Fairfax County officers, Virginia State Police troopers, K-9 units and a helicopter are searching the area.

The officer involved in the shooting was not injured, police said.

It is unknown if the robber was injured, police said.

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