Newly released body camera video shows the moment an Algood, Tennessee police officer was shot in the chest by a wanted fugitive last year.
The video shows Officer Ahscari Valencia stop to talk to the driver of a pickup truck parked outside a storage facility on Oct. 24 who turned out to be Floyd Ray Cook, who had a long criminal history and was wanted on felony drug charges, according to WTVF.
After a brief interaction, Cook raises a gun and shoots the officer, who was luckily saved by his ballistic vest.
Cook fled the scene, sparking a six-day manhunt across parts of Tennessee and Kentucky.
Algood Police Chief Gary Harris praised how Valencia handled the incident and said the video shows the risks of being a police officer.
"He did everything by the book, and I am proud of that," he told the news station.
Harris was also thankful Valencia was wearing his vest.
"It saved his life," he said. "I honestly believe he wouldn't have made it if . . . where the bullet hit that vest it probably would have hit a vital organ."
Officials said that Valencia's body camera video was key in the manhunt for cook. District Attorney Bryant Dunaway said authorities took still pictures of Cook and his truck from the video.
. Cook was finally stopped in Kentucky six days later, and was fatally shot by police after he opened fire on them.
