Owensboro Police say an officer was shot this morning just before six a.m., at the intersection of 5th and Hathaway Street.

Kentucky State Police, leading the investigation, says Owensboro Police Officer Zachary Morris, 23, was looking into a report of a suspicious person possibly breaking into parked vehicles in the area of Hathaway and 6th Streets.

KSP says Officer Morris saw a person matching the description and chased that person behind some houses. As the officer was checking a fenced-in area the homeowner of the residence shot Officer Morris.

Authorities say Morris had a ballistic vest but was shot in the lower stomach area. He is at Owensboro Health, according to KSP, recovering from emergency surgery and is in good condition.

Morris is a two-year veteran of Owensboro Police Department and is assigned to patrol.

KSP say early indications are a homeowner saw the officer, thought it was a suspect prowling in the backyard, and shot him.

The homeowner was detained for questioning but he has been released and is back home at this time.

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(This story was originally published on October 10, 2018)