The early-morning shooting that killed a veteran police sergeant and left another officer and one suspect wounded was at least partially captured on video, Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith said Sunday night.

“We do have some video, and at some point, that will be released as well,’’ Smith said. “That’s up to the outside agency (SBI) when they are comfortable they have the investigation under control.”

The police chief, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and other police and city officials held a press briefing Sunday evening, about 15 hours after 44-year-old Wytasha “Wyt” Carter became the city’s 52nd officer to die in the line of duty.

“The truth is, as we stand before you this evening, this is a press conference none of us wants to have. This is a very hard time for our community right now,’’ Woodfin said. “It’s important that we keep in mind that the officers out here who continue to work and serve this community every single day, I want them to hear directly from me that even in this time that is tough, I want them to keep their head up, to know that their mayor, their city council and the entire community is with them.”

“We want to encourage them to keep working hard. We want them to know we have their back,’’ the mayor said. “We want them to know they’re not grieving alone. We want them to know that in this hard time, there is comfort.”

The ordeal began at 1:59 a.m. Sunday when officers were working a special detail dealing with a rash of car break-ins in that area. An undercover officer spotted at least two suspects who appeared to be trying door handles to see if they were locked in the 900 block of Fifth Avenue North outside the 4 Seasons Bar and Grill. The officer called for backup, and the sergeant arrived.

The officer and the sergeant approached two suspects. "The officers approached one suspect and patted him down where they found what they believed to be a weapon,'' Smith said. “They asked him about it, he armed himself and fired upon our officers.

"What I can tell you is it appears our officers were unable to respond,'' the chief said. “They were taken completely by surprise. We can’t go into great detail because we are still in the infancy stage of the investigation.”

Carter, the second officer – who has been on the force just under two years – and a suspect were rushed to UAB Hospital’s Trauma Center by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service. “Both of them were shot in very critical areas,'' the chief said of the officers.

Carter was pronounced dead at the hospital. Authorities have not released the name of the surviving, but critically-wounded, officer.

“As we continue to pray for Sgt. Carter’s family, please keep in mind to yield the prayers to our officer who is still in intensive care at UAB,’’ an emotional Smith said. “Trust me when I tell you he’s not completely out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination. His condition is very critical and for me, as chief of police, it’s very difficult to look both of their families in the eye and explain to them the tragedy that we’ve had to endure and for one of them that their loved one will not be coming back. It’s a very difficult thing.”

As is standard procedure, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe because of the officer-involved shooting. Because of that, Smith said, Birmingham officials can release few details.

The hospitalized suspect is 31 years old. Smith and Woodfin said they did not know his condition. The second suspect, who was handcuffed and arrested shortly after the shooting, is 18. The chief said he did not know when formal charges could be brought against the pair.

Smith said they have not ruled out the possibility that there was a third suspect. “We are keeping all options open,’’ he said. “We’re trying to determine how many people were there and exactly what occurred.”

North Precinct commander Capt. James Jackson said counselors are on hand to help police officers cope with their grief. “Right now our officers are really needing the continued support of the community and the prayers, so we definitely ask that you continue to do that,’’ Jackson said. “These families are definitely hurting so we ask for your compassion for them as well.”

The chief said the support from Alabama and beyond has been overwhelming and much appreciated. “I’ve gotten emails and phone calls and text messages from people all across the country and from police departments that, quite frankly, some of them I’ve never heard of but they still share and feel the pain of what we are having to endure today,’’ he said.

Of the fallen officer, Smith said this: “Everyone around him who has worked with him has indicated he was a very compassionate, natural-born leader. They enjoyed working with him, working around him, they appreciated his friendship, his compassion and everything he brought to the Birmingham Police Department.”

“Trust me when I tell you we’ve endured a great loss and not only does North Precinct feel it, it is felt all across this department,’’ Smith said. “Our hearts and our prayers are with his wife, his daughter, his son, his mother, and father and sister brother and the rest of their family.”

Smith also praised the surrounding law enforcement agencies, some of whom immediately sent officers from their cities to vast crime scene in Birmingham. “When our officers asked for help, they came without hesitation,’’ he said. “This is a very difficult day, for me as chief of police and it’s a very difficult day for every single person of this department so please bear with us.”