Armed Murder Suspect Shoots CMPD Officer Outside Police Station

CHARLOTTE, NC -- The murder suspect at the center of a regional manhunt was shot and killed late Thursday night after he attempted to ambush police at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Headquarters in uptown, shooting one officer in the leg.

Jonathan Bennett, 23 and wanted as the primary suspect in a domestic homicide earlier in the day, pulled into the parking lot of the CMPD facility at 601 E. Trade Street shortly before 11 p.m. as officers were conducting a briefing and opened fire on them, according to a CMPD report.

“He ambushed us,” CMPD Police Chief Kerr Putney said, The Charlotte Observer reported. One officer was shot by the suspect in the leg and Bennett was killed as officers returned fire.

Earlier in the day, Bennett was the center of a manhunt after the mother of his child was found dead and their nearly three-month old baby missing. His photo, along with a photo of the New York tag on his white Ford Expedition were widely circulated, and police warned the public he was considered armed and dangerous.

Police found Brittany White, 24, slain in a home in the 4100 block of Carlyle Drive around 1:45 p.m. Jan. 11. She was pronounced dead on the scene my paramedics.Bennett is the father of the victim's baby, Journei Bennett, who was initially reported taken from the home by the suspect after the shooting. An Amber Alert was issued for the infant late Thursday afternoon, and less than two hours later, CMPD report the baby had been located safe and unharmed. A second child was located at the scene unharmed.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available

Photos courtesy of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department