Baltimore police officer shot in 'ambush-style' attack on life support

A Baltimore police officer is on life support after what police are calling an "ambush-style attack" in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Officers from the Southern District responded to reports of a police vehicle crash on the 4400 block of Pennington Avenue and discovered an officer inside who had been shot, Baltimore Police Department Commissioner Michael Harrison said during a Thursday press conference.

The officer's family is "obviously angry, confused, in search of answers" and expects authorities to "find who did this," Harrison said.

While the officer was on duty but not on call, a suspect walked up to the rear or alongside the vehicle and began firing inside in a "cowardly, brazen act," striking the officer who was doing his job, he continued.

Authorities believe the officer accelerated from a rested position and crashed after being shot.