On Thursday, an off duty Milwaukee cop shot an armed man on the corner of 47th and West Mill Road after the situation escalated during a minor accident. 

After the accident took place, the two men exited the vehicle, where the assailant drew a gun and started hitting the officer with it. The assailant and the officer then exchanged gun fire, according to Police Chief Norman. 

“This is a story that happens too often in our community here. How does a minor accident change into a deadly force situation? Unacceptable. We have to be better than this,” Chief Norman said. 

He said that the officer was in plain clothes on the way to work when he fired his department issued weapon. It is unknown who fired first, but the 26 year-old assailant was shot and died on scene. 

The officer was reportedly taken to the hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries, there was no one else injured on scene. (RELATED: Mayor Johnson Pushes Wheel Tax Hike to Plug Budget Hole)

“There was shots exchanged between both parties,” Norman said. “There is video, very clear video, of this incident.”

The suspect, identified as Elijah Wilks, had a friend who claimed to be on “Facetime” with him when the incident happened, but disagreed with Chief Norman and the police report. 

“They are not telling the truth. The story they posted is not the truth at all. Nobody got pistol whipped,” said the friend of Wilkes. “Whatever injuries he has, any injuries that may have happened, did not come from Elijah. They were already so many feet away from each other.”

According to FOX6, the officer has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation takes place. The West Allis Police department will head up this investigation, with the assistance of the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team.

MPD will release the video in 15 days, allowing appropriate time for family members to witness before the general public. (RELATED: State Senator Accuses Milwaukee of Repurposing Funds for Police for Raises Elsewhere)