A suspect was shot in the face and hand after a fast-speed chase by Gwinnett Police that began on Buford Highway in Gwinnett County and ended on the Hall County side of Braselton.

The unidentified suspect described as a white man in his 30s was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, accordinging to Gwinnett Police spokeswoman Michele Pihera.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was brought in to investigate as is the norm in any shooting involving law enforcement.

Alerted about the suspect by a passerby, police recognized the man in a purple Ford Escort as someone with active felony warrants, Pihera said.

Upon approaching the suspect at a gas station near Hamilton Mill Road and Buford Highway, the man fled and police pursued, Pihera said.

Officers followed the suspect into Hall County near Friendship Road and Ga. 211 where they cut him off by utilizing a maneuver that pinned and blocked the suspect before he could make it to busy Highway 211.

Pihera said that as the suspect was pinned inside his vehicle he started to pull his own firearm. She said that’s when one of the officers took out his weapon and shot through the driver’s side window.

“Right now we know the suspect has at least two injuries,” Pihera said. “One to the lower jaw area and one to his hand. However, we don’t know for sure whether the suspect received the injury from the officer’s firearm or his own firearm. That’s something that will be investigated not only by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation but also by the nursing staff and the doctors at the local hospital.”

Pihera said the suspect is in stable condition.

During the chase in Gwinnett County, the suspect fired at the police officers, Pihera said. She said the officers were not hit by gunfire nor injured during the incident.

Four other Gwinnett Police patrol cars responded to the frenetic scene in Braselton, along with Hall County Sheriff’s officers and Braselton Police.

Pihera said this is the second shooting involving Gwinnett Police this year.

Through early afternoon, Ga. 347 was shut down from just north of Deaton Creek Parkway to the intersection of Ga. 211.