Off-duty Atlanta police officer shot

An off-duty police officer was shot late Saturday evening on Atlanta’s east side, authorities said.

While working an approved off-duty job at 1572 Hardee Street, Officer Christopher L. Smith encountered an armed individual, Atlanta police spokeswoman Officer Kim Jones said.

“He was ambushed by a suspect carrying a shotgun,” Jones said in an email statement. “The suspect fired at the officer, striking him in the face and leg.”

Smith was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in serious condition but has since been released, police said.

A description of the shooter was not made available early Sunday morning, but detectives from the Atlanta police homicide unit are investigating the incident.

Please return for updates.