BALTIMORE (WJZ) — An attempted suicide by cop. Baltimore police say a man is recovering after threatening an officer’s life.

Tracey Leong has the latest.

Police say the officer felt he was being ambushed and that’s when he opened fire, shooting at the suspect several times in the body.

A routine patrol for a Baltimore police officer took an unexpected turn when a man approached the officer in his marked vehicle near Reisterstown Road and Park Heights Avenue, pointing a gun directly at the cop.

“Had every intention of provoking apparently this police-involved shooting and it appears to be a suicide by cop scenario,” said Police Commissioner Kevin Davis.

The police officer, feeling his life was being threatened, fired through his window, injuring the suspect. When police arrived on scene, they recovered a gun from the suspect. They say it was an unloaded 9mm.

“The fact that the weapon wasn’t loaded does not change the threat that was perceived by the officer, who had a raised gun at him,” said TJ Smith, Baltimore City police.

The shooting happened early Sunday morning in the Park Heights neigbhorhood.

“This is where you got to expect for something like that to happen. It’s scary ’cause I have family but it could have been someone going on a killing spree,” said one.

It’s unclear why the officer was targeted by the gunman but police say it’s a threat that’s not uncommon.

“Highlights the dangers of our policing profession in the 21st century,” Davis said.

The suspect is listed in critical condition at the hospital but the officer involved was not injured.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.