A gunman has shot a police officer in the face in an ambush in New Orleans.
The officer was patrolling the area with a colleague and were sitting inside their SUV when the incident happened in the city's French Quarter neighbourhood in Louisiana at around 4.30pm on Friday.
Suddenly, a pedicab passenger suddenly opened fire on the officers' SUV, it has been reported.
One of the officers was struck by the gunfire, suffering a gunshot wound to the left cheek and said to be stuck in his skull, the New Orleans Police Department said.
Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said a retired Army veteran who was working in a nearby shop ran to help the injured officers after the incident.
Mr Ferguson said: “A retired Army veteran with medical experience was working in a nearby store and helped with the medical treatment of our officers until fellow officers arrived at the scene.
“We want to thank her, as well as citizens who helped to point out the perpetrator to officers responding to this scene.”
The other officer received minor abrasions to the arm but was not said to be in a serious condition.
Both police officers were transported to a local hospital after the incident.
Mr Ferguson also told Fox8 the bullet is now lodged in the skull of the police officer who was shot in the cheek.
Ferguson praised the two officers "for maintaining professionalism" during the incident.
The injured police officer was said to be in a serious but stable condition.
A suspect was arrested within minutes of the ambush, police confirmed.
He also added the arresting officers did not use any physical force on the suspect.
Eyewitnesses at the scene said they saw a man standing up in the back of the pedicab and firing at least five shots into the driver's side door of the officers' SUV.
The shooter reportedly fled the scene before being arrested by police.
Gabriel Shaffer, an artist who owns a gallery near the area where the incident happened, said he heard the wounded officer get out of the vehicle while moaning and exclaiming in pain, according to Nola News.
The artist said: "I could clearly hear him say, 'Oh, my God, somebody just took my life!'"
He added: "It was pretty awful."
Another witness who was in a building nearby said he saw the driver of the pedicab crash into the sidewalk and run for cover.
New Orleans Police Department said in a statement: "The NOPD quickly arrested a suspect in an incident that occurred today (October 30, 2020) at the intersection of Royal and St. Philip streets where two NOPD officers were fired upon, one of which was seriously injured.
"At about 4:30pm, the two officers were patrolling the area, traveling southbound on Royal Street in a marked NOPD SUV.
"When the officers reached the intersection with St. Philip Street, an unknown male riding as a passenger in a pedicab heading riverbound in the intersection on St. Philip Street opened fire on the officers’ SUV.
"One of the officers was struck by the gunfire, sustaining a gunshot wound to the left cheek, while the second officers received minor abrasions to the arm.
"Both officers were transported to a local hospital by another NOPD unit responding to the scene.
"At the time of this writing, the officer struck by gunfire was in serious but stable condition and was responsive."
