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Authorities: Man Shot By Lynn Police Officer In Critical Condition

LYNN (CBS) -- Authorities say a 23-year-old drug dealer is in critical condition after he was shot by an undercover police officer he struck with his vehicle following a drug buy in Lynn late Monday morning.

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Police taped off the Lynn shooting scene on Monday. (Ryan Kath/WBZ-TV)

Investigators say an undercover police officer tried to arrest a suspected drug dealer.

A drug task force saw the alleged drug buy around 11:30 a.m. on Jefferson Street. Authorities say the officer showed his badge and then the suspect drove his green SUV at him, knocking him to the ground.

The officer was able to fire his gun once and hit the suspect, who then lost control of his vehicle and crashed it into two other cars on the street.

Lynn Shooting
A shooting occurred in Lynn on Monday. (Ryan Kath/WBZ-TV)

The 18-year vet with the Lynn police force could be seen limping after the incident. He was treated at a nearby hospital and then released.

Police initially reported that the shooting victim had died, but the Essex County District Attorney's Office later said that was not the case.

A woman went outside after hearing the shot fired. She says she saw the suspect "covered in blood" following the crash.

The shooting victim was MedFlighted to a Boston hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said. His is currently in critical condition.

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A shooting victim is brought to a Medflight in Lynn (WBZ-TV)

The shooting incident is being investigated by Massachusetts State Police.

No other information was immediately available.

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