Ballwin, Missouri police chief: Driver "ambushed" officer during traffic stop, shooting him 3 times

BALLWIN, Missouri -- A suburban St. Louis police chief says a motorist shot an officer three times as the officer walked back to his car during a traffic stop.

Ballwin Police Chief Kevin Scott said at a news conference Friday, July 8th that the attack happened around 11 a.m. and was captured on video.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar says the suspect, who is in his 30s, "ambushed" the officer, who is in critical but stable condition. His identity wasn't released.

Authorities didn't provide the race of the officer or the suspect or suggest a possible motive.

The shooting comes amid heightened tension following an attack in Dallas in which five police officers were killed and seven others and two civilians were wounded.