Officer in critical condition after shooting in N.C.

SHELBY, N.C. -- A Shelby police officer was in critical condition Saturday night after being shot while serving a warrant, police say.

According to the Shelby Police Department, Officer Tim Brackeen, 38, was shot early Saturday morning in the torso, despite wearing a protective vest. Shelby had been looking for a subject wanted on outstanding warrants.

Shortly after arriving on scene officers in the area heard shots fired. When officers went to Brackeen's location they found that he had been wounded.

Brackeen was taken to a hospital. Shelby Police released a statement saying Brackeens was in critical but stable condition.

The Charlotte Observer reported that police have obtained warrants charging Irving Lucien Fenner Jr., 23, of Grover with attempted murder. They were still searching for him on Saturday night.

Officer Brackeen has been with the Shelby Police Department 13 years and is assigned as a K-9 officer. He is married and has one daughter.

Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford said Brackeen is the longest serving K-9 officer currently with the department and loved his job.

“At this time, our department asks for everyone to keep Officer Brackeen, his family and the entire department in their thoughts and prayers,” Ledford said.

Brackeen's mother, Phyllis Mitchell Brackeen, posted on Facebook asking for prayers, saying her son shows no brain activity.

"If he pulls thru this, it will only be because God steps in and does the impossible,” she said. “But God can. This is a deep valley for us, but even in the valley, God is good."