“Roger Unit 110.  That is 244 South Pine, Second floor.”

“Roger.  Have backup use the back entrance and stairs.  We have a man with a rifle in 2D.”

Dean alternately watched the door and rolled Mark so he could see his back.  There was a small hole just below his shoulder blade on the right side.  It was only oozing a small amount of blood.  Certainly this was not desirable but it was not the problem.  The damage was inside.  Mark was badly wounded.  Dean watched the door from behind the corner.  If the shooter came out, he didn’t want to become a victim.

He saw the door open a crack.  A rifle barrel appeared and then a man’s arm.  Dean could not allow the man to fire.  The walls here apparently did not provide protection.  He aimed and fired at the arm.  He heard someone cry out, the arm and the rifle pulled back and the door slammed.  Dean was happy to hear sirens.  They stopped in front of the building.  Help was arriving.  Then he heard one rifle crack from the room and a few seconds later, another.  There were pistol shots from the street.  The radio was alive,  “Shots fired, officer down in front of 244 South Pine.” 

A few minutes later two officers came up the back steps behind Dean.  When they saw it was safe they called to the EMT’s in the stairway.  They took over the care of Mark.  Soon he was downstairs and headed to the hospital.   

Dean and the other two officers took up the position at the corner.  The shooter could not get out without being exposed to their fire.  The other two officers were wearing protective vests.  They took the more exposed positions.  Everything was quiet for nearly twenty minutes and then there was a single rifle shot from inside the room.  Two more shots followed from outside.  The radio came alive.  “We got him.  Unit 110 and unit 78.” 

Dean hit the radio, “Unit 110 and 78.”

“Can you break in?  Be careful.  We have a report that the shooter is down.  Unit 63 is coming up to support.”

“Roger.  Unit 110 and 78 going in as soon as support is in place.”

Two officers appeared from the stairway.

The three men broke into the apartment.  Jeff Zirkle was on the floor near the window.  He had an arm wound and two chest wounds.  He was still alive.  They checked him for weapons and called for the EMT’s.

By now Mark Norris was in the ER.  A quick evaluation indicated they must open his chest to repair the damage.  That could not be done in the ER.  He was taken to OR and they opened his chest.  They tied several bleeders and repaired several holes in his lung.  He was out of surgery just before noon.  Jeff Zirkle was taken to Memorial Hospital.  There he was taken to surgery to repair two chest wounds.  An officer was posted at his room door.

Keith Lassiter was the first officer shot in the street.  The bullet was fired from above.  It fractured his right clavicle about an inch from the end of his shoulder and splintered the bone and the bullet down through his right chest.  Walter Altland was the third officer down.  The bullet went through his right leg about two inches above the knee and broke the bone.

If you wish to read more of this novel click on the link below.  It is the first chapter and it contains links to the other chapters. 

The Night Sniper Chapter One: On the Beat

The Night Sniper: Ch. 007 Three Legs in Pathology

The Night Sniper – Ch. 009 The Doctor Visits the Three Women