Two New Orleans police officers are recovering from gunshot wounds to the legs after getting into a shootout with a car burglary suspect in eastern New Orleans Tuesday night.

The suspect, 21-year-old Dwight Clark, was shot in the thigh by one of the officers and remained hospitalized Wednesday, a police spokesman said. Detectives continue to identify and locate a second suspect who escaped through a police perimeter that was formed after the 9:15 p.m. gun battle.

The shooting took place after two patrol officers responded to a call of a car burglary in progress. The break-in at Briarheath and Strathmore drives was reported near an area where more than 40 car burglaries were reported at four apartment complexes last week.

On alert after last week's break-ins, officers responded within 10 minutes, Police Association of New Orleans attorney Eric Hessler said.

Hessler said two burglars on bicycles were caught in the act.

“They fled on the bicycles, the officers pursued them,” he said. “That’s when there was an exchange of gunfire between the officers and one of the perpetrators.”

Even though the officers were wounded, they were able to return fire and call for backup. One of the two suspects was shot in the thigh and captured, while the other escaped.

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