(Alliance, Neb.)- As of 9:00 p.m., (MDT), the Nebraska State Patrol continues negotiations with an armed suspect inside an Alliance pharmacy.

The incident began just before 9:00 a.m., (MDT), Tuesday, June 12, when an armed male suspect walked into the Thiele Pharmacy, in the 300 block of Box Butte Avenue, downtown Alliance.  Officers with the Alliance Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an armed man entering the building.

During the initial response, Alliance Police Officer Kirk Felker, 43, was wounded in an exchange of gunfire.  Felker, a 15-year veteran of the Alliance Police Department is being treated for his injuries at the Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance. His injuries are non-life threatening.

The Nebraska State Patrol responded to the scene just after 9:00 a.m., where NSP resources began assisting the local authorities with perimeter set up and clearing nearby buildings.

Just after 10:30 a.m., (MDT), a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT team was wounded when gunfire was exchanged through a door into an adjacent building. Trooper Tim Flick, 37, a 15-year veteran of the agency suffered gunshot wounds to the left side of his body, and is currently in serious but stable condition at the Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance.  A second Alliance Police Officer suffered a shrapnel wound at the time Trooper Flick was shot. Officer Matt Shannon, a five year veteran of the Alliance Police Department was treated and released from the Box Butte General Hospital.

The Nebraska State Patrol was able to establish phone contact with the suspect inside the pharmacy and negotiations began.

At approximately 4:30 p.m., (MDT), the lone hostage escaped from the building. During his escape the hostage was wounded and transported to the Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance. The name of the hostage and the extent of his injuries are not being released at this time.

The business district of downtown Alliance remains cordoned off and residents are urged to avoid the area.

The Nebraska State Patrol is being assisted by law enforcement officers from the Alliance, Scottsbluff and Chadron Police Department, and the Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistance is also being provided by the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department, Nebraska Department of Roads and the Alliance Street Department.

Further updates will be provided as developments continue to unfold