Officer Shot In University Area

UPDATE: The standoff has ended and Christopher Ellerbe is in police custody!

A 37 year old CMPD police officer, Kayvan Hazrati, (L) was shot in the forehead around 11:15 this morning. The officers were attempting to arrest Christopher Ellerbe, 32, (R) for charges involving a rape in South Carolina.

Hazrati and nine other officers, including one from the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Department and two from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were present. Officer Hazrati is assigned to the Violent Criminal Apprehension - Street Crimes Task Force.

Officer Hazrati is in serious but stable condition at Carolinas Medical Center. Doctors said the bullet entered his left temple and lodged in the anterior part of his brain. He has undergone surgery and continues to approve, according to hospital officials.

Christopher Ellerbe, is still barricaded inside his brother's home on Norcroft Drive, in the University area of Charlotte. A SWAT team has the house surrounded, and authorities have closed down W.T. Harris Boulevard between Sugar Creek and Mallard Creek roads. It is being reported that Ellerbe may have been holding his brother hostage, but his brother came out of the house unharmed, around 4:30 pm.

Police negotiators have been able to talk with Ellerbee and the police chief said he believes that they have been close to negotiating a surrender several times. Police believe they can resolve the situation in a peaceful way.

Ellerbe allegedly assaulted the 18-year-old daughter of his girlfriend, according to Sumter police. A police report said he spent the night at their home and assaulted the woman in the morning after her mother went to work.

Police searched for Ellerbe on Tuesday with dogs and State Law Enforcement Division helicopter but were unable to find him. In addition, Ellerbe was convicted of armed robbery in SC in 1990 and sentenced to 15-25 years in prison. He was also arrested in May of 2005 and charged with failure to stop at a blue light in Sumter County, S.C.

Hazrati is a 12-year veteran of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and was one of 10 people who were serving the warrant. Apparently, several people were in the house and came outside and cooperated with officers when Ellerbe began shooting from inside the house, striking Hazrati.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System said about 1,000 students in 52 school have been impacted by the standoff. Students from David Cox Road Elementary Schools who ride certain buses were not allowed to ride their bus home and needed to be picked up from the school.

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UPDATE: WCNC gives an update on what happened to end the standoff.

"A six hour standoff between police and a suspect accused of rape and shooting a CMPD officer ended after S.W.A.T team members stormed the house and were forced to shoot the suspect, police said.

Police spokesperson Keith Bridges told 6NEWS that S.W.A.T team members fired tear gas bombs into the house, which forced Christopher Ellerbe outside.

“Once on the porch, officers could see that he still had a gun in his hand. He was asked to lower the gun, he did not. He raised the gun fired and struck another officer in his helmet. Then officers returned fire and the suspect went down,” Bridges said.

Ellerbe was transported by medic to the hospital where he is listed in guarded condition.
Police said Ellerbe was shot somewhere in his lower body. The second officer shot by Ellerbe was not injured. The bullet did not penetrate his helmet.

Sources: WCNC, News14, Charlotte Observer, WSOC-TV