A man is in the hospital after a Central Point police officer shot him during a traffic stop early Sunday in Jackson County, police said.

The officer pulled the man over at about 3 a.m. for a traffic violation, a statement from Oregon State Police says. The vehicle eventually stopped near the intersection of Vilas and Hamrick roads.

During "an encounter" with the driver, the officer, who was not named, fired his weapon and shot the driver, police said. Police believe the driver had a firearm at the time of the shooting.

The driver, whose name was also withheld, was transported to an area hospital for potentially life-threatening injuries, police said.

Jackson County's Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit is investigating the incident, per the request of the Jackson County District Attorney's Office.

The unit is made up of investigators from Oregon State Police, Medford Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Central Point Police Department, Ashland Police Department and the Jackson County District Attorney's Office.

Though the investigation at the scene of the shooting is nearly complete, police are asking anyone who witnessed or heard the incident to contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch Center at 541-664-4600.

-- Anna Marum

amarum@oregonian.com
503-294-5911
@annamarum

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