ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Alexandria Police tell ABC7 that Officer Peter Laboy had responded to a look out call and had spotted the suspect’s taxi cab, but he was shot before he could attempt to make a stop on Wednesday.
Police say workers at a boutique in Alexandria called to report a suspicious man. The suspect fled driving a taxi cab. Police called for a look out for the suspect and went to the boutique to take a report.
Officer Laboy responded to the look out for the suspect. Police believe Laboy had spotted the cab, but didn’t have time to make a traffic stop before he was shot. He didn’t call dispatch to report that he was stopping the cab.
The first they heard was when they received the call, “officer down.”
MedStar Washington Hospial Center officials said on Thursday that it is "remarkable" that Alexandria Police Ofc. Peter Laboy is alive after he was shot in the head Wednesday.
Laboy suffered a catastrophic gunshot wound to the head, according to Dr. Janis Orlowski, the hospital's Chief Medical Officer. He had not regained consciousness, but Dr. Orlowski said that Laboy has moved his arms and legs.
He remains in critical but stable condition and remains sedated, Orlowski said.
Meanwhile, the man accused of shooting Laboy near the intersection of Wilkes Street and St. Aspah Street Wednesday afternoon stop will be held without bond.
Kashif Bashir, the man who police say shot 45-year-old Peter Laboy on Wednesday, will be back in court on April 10 for a preliminary hearing after he was arraigned Thursday morning.
Authorities say Laboy was going to make a traffic stop Wednesday on a taxi wanted for what police are calling a minor offense when the cab driver, identified as Bashir, opened fire.
The Woodbridge resident, 27, then 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.
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," Alexandria Police Chief Earl Cook said. "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."
Police officials spoke of Laboy on Thursday as a man and officer who had "no animosity against anyone."
He also works as a volunteer at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria.
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, 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."
Those wishing to help the Laboy family can drop off donations at the Alexandria Police Department, located at 3600 Wheeler Avenue. Donations can also be sent to:
Alexandria Police Association c/o Peter Laboy
P.O. Box 1228
Alexandria, VA 22313
Read more: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/02/alexandria-officer-struck-by-vehicle-wednesday-85735.html#ixzz2MaZMtcSF