A Birmingham police sergeant was shot multiple times in an exchange of gunfire during a traffic stop in southwest Birmingham Wednesday afternoon.

All three suspects were in custody before 4 p.m. One of the suspects - the alleged shooter - also was injured in the gunfight. Authorities have not released his identity but sources say he is a 40-year-old convicted felon with a lengthy criminal history that includes resisting arrest.

The incident happened at 12:45 p.m. in the 1200 block of Tuscaloosa Avenue. Birmingham Police Deputy Chief Scott Praytor said Sgt. Anthony “Tony” Wheeler and another West Precinct sergeant stopped a vehicle in connection with an investigation into ongoing vehicle thefts in the area. There has been a series of thefts, Praytor said, involving trucks with trailers or unmarked wreckers stealing vehicles.

The vehicle stopped was a truck pulling a vehicle. The sergeants initiated the traffic stop to ensure they had the proper paperwork. When they did, Praytor said, a passenger jumped out of the vehicle and started to run, as did a second suspect.

Wheeler gave chase on foot. During the pursuit , Wheeler tripped. "The officer fell and was getting back up when the suspect fired,'' Praytor said. "He (the suspect) had the opportunity to escape. That just speaks to the mindset of some of the violent offenders we deal with out here.

Wheeler, a 10 year veteran of the department, was promoted to the rank of sergeant in July 2019.

Once the suspect fired shots, both Wheeler and the other sergeant returned fire. According to sources, the shooting was captured on video.

An officer could be heard on the police radio yelling, “Shots fired.” The dispatcher replied, “Are they shooting at you?” and then a 10-33-- the code for officer needs all possible assistance -- was broadcast citywide.

Wheeler was shot at least once in the leg. Fellow officers rushed him in a police cruiser to UAB Hospital, where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service transported the wounded suspect to UAB Hospital as well. His injuries also are not severe.

Officers from across the city and beyond flocked to the shooting scene. They initially set up a three block perimeter in the area of the shooting, which happened near Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. The shooting scene is also near Hemphill Elementary School, which was closed today for cleaning.

This is the scene at the site where a BPD Officer has been shot pic.twitter.com/IaSrirMIZJ — carol robinson (@RobinsonCarol) March 11, 2020

There initially was a large police presence outside of the UAB emergency room.

A command post was established nearby and tracking dogs were on the ground. Jefferson County’s Star 1 helicopter is searching for the suspect by air and agents with the State Bureau of Investigation are on the scene. As is protocol with officer-involved shootings, SBI will lead the probe.

They are starting to block off intersections to transport to hospital — carol robinson (@RobinsonCarol) March 11, 2020

"It’s very early on. Our biggest concern right now is that our officer is OK,” Mauldin said. “We’re conducting a thorough search in the area and hopefully we can bring this suspect into custody.”

The remaining suspect was taken into custody by the department’s Crime Reduction Team shortly before 4 p.m. The suspect was captured outside of the initial perimeter but with an expanded perimeter which consisted of about 15 blocks. More than 100 law enforcement officers were on the scene at any given time during the manhunt, including Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies, the U.S. Marshals, ATF, FBI and Homeland Security as well as officers from surrounding Jefferson County cities.

Praytor said a suspect’s weapon was recovered from the scene.

Wednesday’s shooting is the fifth time in 14 months that a Birmingham police officer has been injured. The shooting comes weeks after narcotics Det. John Finke was shot when he responded to a robbery in Woodlawn. Finke survived the shooting.

"When we come to work, we know there is a high risk that we’re dealing with. We come out and make sure that we serve the citizens of Birmingham,'' Mauldin said. “It’s very difficult, however we know the job we have to do each and everyday when we come to work.”

Birmingham FOP President Lt. Richard Haluska said he visited with both Wheeler and the other officer who was involved in the incident late Wednesday afternoon. As for the injured officer, “He is somewhat sedated, but he seems to be doing Ok. He’s in good spirits.”

It doesn’t initially appear surgery will be immediately required. “There’s going to be a long recovery, but it doesn’t look too in depth and that is a great thing,’’ Haluska said.

The lieutenant said it’s a shame that the violence continues, especially toward police officers. “I don’t understand why as we try to move forward as a community, people continue to commit violence in their neighborhoods and attack law enforcement and move us backwards,’’ he said.

Asked what the answer is, Huluska said, “moral conduct.”

“People just have to take responsibility for their actions, and we need to make the punishment so egregious that they don’t want to get that penalty for doing the crime,’’ he said. “They do not fear jail and for some of them, jail is not the worse place to be.”

“They are fed and kept safe which is not what they have on the street,’’ Haluska said. “Jail has become more a like a full-service hotel. We have to make it tougher and make a place where people don’t want to go.”

Praytor said the Birmingham Police Department has more officers on the streets than ever before. “We’re actively trying to bring crime down. When you’re out there interacting with the public more, doing more traffic stops and more interviews, there’s more opportunity for this type of thing to happen.”

Both sergeants were in uniform and in a marked cruiser when they stopped the suspects. "I hope it shows people the kind of violent individuals we’re dealing with out here,'' Praytor said. “It’s why violent offenders need to be kept in jail. If they will shoot at a police officer in broad daylight, who won’t they shoot at?”

"These senseless acts of violence must stop,” Birmingham City Council President William Parker said. “We are calling on all our residents to come together and unite against these hostile acts, because this violence affects us all. We are offering our thoughts and prayers to the officer and their family during this difficult time. We are going to continue monitoring this situation closely and provide any support we can.”

Councilman Hunter Williams, chair of the council’s public safety committee, provided this statement: "We have a big ask of all the men and women in the Birmingham Police Department.They always put their lives on the line every time they show up for a shift. Today exemplifies just that. We have officers out there trying to keep our communities safe. We want the people to rally behind our police department and we want to end the ‘no snitch’ policy in the city.

This is a developing story and will be updated. A press conference is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

AL.com reporters Ivana Hyrnkiw, Anna Beahm and Howard Koplowitz contributed to this article.