ISTANBUL

Two police officers were critically injured after being shot on Friday morning in the eastern US state of North Carolina, authorities said.

The incident occurred around 10.47 a.m local time (1547GMT) in the town of Mint Hill, where officers responded to a reported child custody exchange outside a retail business on Matthews-Mint Hill Road, police said.

During the encounter, a man drew a firearm, prompting an exchange of gunfire.

Two officers were hit and are in critical condition, the Mint Hill Police Department said.

The suspect was also shot during the incident and killed.