Roanoke Rapids police continue their search this evening for the person who shot one of the department’s officers this afternoon.

Chief Jeff Hinton said the vehicle was found at Halifax Academy and a search is concentrated in that area.

Police are not releasing the officer’s name until they are sure most of the family members have been notified.

The officer has been taken to surgery. “I feel like he’ll be fine,” Hinton said.

The officer was shot as he approached a vehicle at the 172 mile marker on Interstate 95 after making a traffic stop.

Hinton declined to say where the officer was shot or how many times he was shot.

The shooting occurred shortly before 2:30 p.m. when the officer stopped a stolen vehicle with a white male and female occupants. The driver shot the officer.

Anyone who was on the interstate around 2:20 p.m. is encouraged to call 911, Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444 or the police department at 252-533-2810.