A Cranston police officer fired at a fleeing vehicle following a shoplifting report at Garden City Shopping Center Sunday evening. Police are still looking for the vehicle and its occupants.

According to a press release from the Cranston Police Department, a driver refused to exit a vehicle at a traffic light, and nearly ran down an officer as it tried to flee. The officer then fired at the vehicle, according to police.

Late Sunday night, Maj. Todd Patalano, CPD’s Chief of Administrative Services, released a statement on behalf of the department.

According to the press release, a Cranston police officer discharged a firearm “at a suspect who fled from an officer attempting to detain two shoplifting suspects,” resulting in a “multi-agency investigation.”

Around 5:16 p.m., Sunday, June 16, Cranston police were called to investigate a “shoplifting offense” reported by a store employee at the Garden City Shopping Center.

“The license plate and suspect vehicle description were provided to Cranston Police Dispatch and broadcast to all Patrol Officers,” according to Cranston police.

About five minutes later, around 5:21 p.m., an officer “observed the vehicle stopped in traffic at a red light on Reservoir Avenue, just south of the on-ramp to Route 10 in the city of Providence,” according to the press release. “The officer approached the suspect vehicle on foot, opened the driver’s door, and ordered the occupants to exit.”

According to police, the man driving the vehicle “refused the officer’s commands, while the female passenger told the driver to flee.”

“The vehicle made contact with the officer who discharged a single round from a duty weapon,” according to police. “The driver fled onto Route 10 north and was last seen near Niantic Avenue. The officer was transported by rescue to Kent County Hospital and treated for injuries sustained in the incident.”

The injured officer has since been released from the hospital.

“As is protocol with all officer-involved shootings, the incident is under investigation by a multi-agency investigative team comprised of members of the Cranston Police Department, Rhode Island State Police, Providence Police, and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office,” according to the press release. “The suspects remain at large at this time, and the vehicle has not been recovered.”

On Wednesday morning, Patalano said, “The investigation is continuing and once there are arrests, notification will be provided.”