An early morning shootout between police and suspects in a local convenience store has left two officers wounded and one suspect in critical condition.

We have many details on the incident, but the only place to start is at the beginning. A little after midnight, two officers, one training the other, happened upon a robbery in progress. The scene that followed was alarming, and surveillance video shows some disturbing details.

When all was said and done, two Dothan police officers, Arthur Schaffer and Walter Handley were sent to the Southeast Alabama Medical Center, along with the alleged shooter, 18-year-old Andrevis Deon Davis of Headland.

Police also say two females, Kiara Watson and Tenoa Sterling were also involved in the incident.

Schaffer and Handley were responding to a robbery at the Hobo Pantry on Highway 84 East, off Beverlye Road. Handley, has only been a part of the force for two months. The ensuing shootout sent Davis, Schaffer and Handley all to the emergency room.

"The suspect is in hiding as the police officers pull up in the parking lot. The clerk and two other witnesses were held at gunpoint and not allowed to leave the store; watch the counter," Chief John Powell, with the Dothan Police Department said, describing video surveillance tape.

And, just like that, the events of the early morning were over and other first responders jumped to take care of those injured.

As the shooter remained in critical condition, police spent a majority of the morning gathering evidence from the scene, to ensure a conviction, all with their thoughts on their wounded fellow officers.

"Handley has been discharged; Officer Schaffer is either been or will be discharged here shortly, but he will have to return for additional surgery,” Chief Powell continued.

There are a lot of loose ends in this investigation that need to be tied down, but the important thing is both officers were released from the hospital Friday morning, and narrowly escaped the much worse option.