DETROIT (WWJ) – An off-duty police officer was involved in a shooting near the Detroit-Hamtramck border after a man attempted to rob him at gunpoint.

The shooting happened around 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Conant Plaza Pharmacy on Conant and Carpenter streets, just south of the Davison Freeway.

Detroit Police Sgt. Michael Woody said the situation unfolded after the off-duty officer was approached outside of the pharmacy.

“While the officer was outside of that location, a suspect walked up to him, armed with a nickel-plated revolver, and demanded his cell phone — basically attempting to rob the officer,” Woody told WWJ’s Russ McNamara. “The officer was able to distract him and knock the gun out of his hand and run into the pharmacy location.”

But the suspect wasn’t giving up that easily, and attempted to follow the officer into the pharmacy.

“Witnesses indicated that the suspect did try to fire through the glass door at the officer. However, his weapon appeared to have malfunctioned,” Woody said. “The officer then drew his weapon and fired one round. The suspect was struck one time in the face.”

The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and remains in serious condition. No other injuries were reported.

Woody said the officer, who was not identified, has been placed on paid leave.

“Per our standard protocol, he will be off-duty for a couple days. We’ll obviously give him some counseling, making sure he goes through the proper steps to be cleared for duty again,” Woody said.

An investigation is ongoing.