Search on for man who exchanged gunfire with Melbourne cop, police say

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Police are searching for a gun and the man who they said used it to exchanged shots with a Melbourne police officer early Tuesday morning.

Police said Sgt. Brian Wical was patrolling in his vehicle when he saw a man by the back of a boarded-up house on Juanita Circle.

According to police, Wical got out of his car to investigate on foot. When he approached, he noticed the man looked like he was loading a gun.

When Wical yelled at the man, the man raised the gun and fired at Wical, who then returned fire, police said.

The man, who appeared to be in his 20s, then ran to the back of the house, scaled a stone wall and fled, but not before Wical was able to pull his shirt off.

The man is described as a black male with close cropped hair. He was wearing camouflage shorts.

Wical was not injured in the 1 a.m. incident. Police said they don't know if the man who shot at the officer suffered injuries in the incident.

Police said Wical is an 11-year veteran with the department.

The gun has not been found.

WFTV