A bulletproof vest is credited with saving the life of a26-year-old Riverside police officer who was shot in the chestWednesday by an unknown attacker.
Patrolman Thomas Weitzel, who is in serious but stable conditionat Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, was patrolling aloneat about 3 a.m. when he spotted a car with tinted windows, no licenseplates and three men inside.
The car was parked illegally in the 100 block of Northgate Road,Riverside police said.
Weitzel, a three-year veteran of the police force, parked about20 feet behind the car and had just stepped out of his patrol carwhen one of the men jumped out of the car and fired a shotgun at him,police said.
The bulletproof vest absorbed most of the shotgun pellets, butWeitzel was knocked down by the impact.
As his attackers drove away, heading east on Northgate, Weitzelmanaged to crawl back to his car and radio a description of theblack, four-door sedan and his attacker.
Weitzel, who is married, has worn his vest "religiously" sincecoming on the force, a fellow officer said.
Police said it is probable the three men were planning aburglary in the area.
It was the first time in Riverside Police Department historythat a police officer has been shot while on duty, officials said.
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