HARRISBURG - Harrisburg police would have been justified in shooting at a gunman who fired at least six times early Wednesday at an officer chasing his car, said Police Chief Tom Carter.

But officers did not fire back, he said.

"They took into consideration the totality of the circumstances and the other persons they would be putting in danger if they returned gunfire," Carter said Wednesday at a news conference. "They did what they had to do. The outcome is good."

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No one was hurt in the police chase early Wednesday that stemmed from a violent armed street robbery in midtown. But at least two bullets struck a police car in the engine and driver's side door.

The patrol car will require some "serious engine work," Carter said. "The officer naturally is a little shaken up, but they're doing fine."

Police on Wednesday afternoon continued their extensive manhunt for Shawn McCoy, 20, who is suspected of firing repeatedly at police from the passenger seat of the getaway car. Crime scene technicians are also scouring parts of uptown, looking to retrieve shell casings and other evidence.

Two alleged accomplices were arrested early Wednesday after the car chase ended near Italian Lake. They were identified as Sharyne Cook, 24, who allegedly drove the getaway car, and Yusef Chandler-Blake, 25.

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Police charged Cook with criminal conspiracy, flight to avoid apprehension, fleeing and eluding, driving without a license and two counts of robbery.

Police charged Chandler-Blake with criminal conspiracy, flight to avoid apprehension and two counts of robbery.

McCoy, who was already facing two robbery charges stemming from an armed heist inside an elevator last month, is now facing a slew of additional charges. Police charged him with nine crimes, including these five felonies: criminal attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of robbery.

The chase early Wednesday kicked off after two men were robbed about 2:35 a.m. as they walked along the sidewalk near Al's Cafe on Verbeke Street near Third Street.

A gunman confronted the victims, pistol-whipped one of them, and stole their cash, jewelry and cell phones, police said.

As officers responded to the robbery call, they spotted a vehicle fleeing that matched the victims' description of the suspects' vehicle, said Police Capt. Colin Cleary.

Police chased the suspects and faced repeated gunfire until the chase ended in the 3000 block of Green Street. The three suspects ran away. Police quickly arrested Cook and Chandler-Blake, but McCoy hid by the riverfront, police said.

Police requested help from nearby police agencies and the state police, who provided a helicopter to search for McCoy.

Carter pleaded at the news conference Wednesday for McCoy to surrender peacefully.

"It is not the desire of the Harrisburg police to do any bodily injury to Shawn, but we have to address what took place," Carter said, adding that he had been in contact with McCoy's family members.

Carter lamented the mindset of some young men in the city who view violent crime as a way of life.

"When you see these young men out here doing robberies, they call them licks, they are prepared to sacrifice anything possible," Carter said. "If that means taking out a victim or taking out a police officer, that's the mindset they have.

It's a very dangerous situation for a police officer to be faced with."

Carter said he has known McCoy since McCoy was a boy.

"Shawn was a pretty good athlete at one time, but for some reason, he just went to the left," Carter said. "He wasn't focused. I don't know if its because his dad was incarcerated and he didn't have that proper guidance, but I've known Shawn since he was very small."

Carter said McCoy had been released recently from jail where he spent about two years for a gun incident.

McCoy was last spotted wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black jeans and red or maroon sneakers, police said.

Anyone with information should call Det. Chris Sivio at 717-255-6516 or email csilvio@cityofhbg.com; or Sgt. Gabriel Olivera at 717-255-6531 or email golivera@cityofhbg.com .

People may also call the Dauphin County Police dispatch at 717-558-6900 and ask for a City detective.