ALEXANDRIA, Va. (WJLA) – Alexandria police motorcycle officer Peter Laboy, 45, is out of surgery and in critical condition after he was shot during a traffic stop in Alexandria Wednesday.
Officer Laboy, was shot near the intersection of Wilkes Street and South St. Asaph Street around noon. Officials say Laboy suffered a gunshot wound to the head among other injuries.
Laboy is a 17-year veteran of the force and has been with the motorcycle unit since 2007. He has a wife and children and was wearing a bullet proof vest at the time of the shooting.
"Peter is kind of a cop's cop. You talk to his family they'll say Peter wanted to be a cop since he was two feet high. He loved the job, he worked diligently,” said Chief Earl Cook of the Alexandria Police Department.
Authorities say Laboy was conducting a routine traffic stop Wednesday on a taxi wanted for what police are calling a minor offense when the cab driver, identified as 27 year old Kashif Bashir, opened fire.
Bashir, a Woodbridge resident, led police on a chase before he crashed on Fort Hunt Road near Belle View Boulevard and was taken into custody. Bashir's employer, Alexandria Yellow Cab, says he wasn't on the clock at the time.
Bashir is charged with malicious wounding of an officer. Police believe Bashir is a naturalized citizen from Pakistan.
Investigators say a motive is not clear right now, but the investigation continues.
Kyle Summers, general manager for Alexandria Yellow Cab Company, said two drivers operate the cab. Both are licensed by the City of Alexandria and passed background checks. While he wouldn't give the name of the man driving that cab at the time of the incident, he said he's never had an issue with either driver. Summers adds the cab was off the clock at the time of the incident.
“We're shocked and it breaks my heart that something like this has happened to this officer,” he said. “We are supporting the police investigation and our thoughts and prayers are with the officer's family.”