Three law enforcement officers ambushed within hours of each other Sunday

Three law enforcement officers from Texas to Missouri were ambushed within hours of each other Sunday.

One officer and two suspects died. A man has been arrested and now faces murder charges after reportedly shooting and killing a officer in San Antonio Sunday afternoon.

Hours after that, a St. Louis Officer was targeted. Police say a man driving next to the patrol car fired twice, hitting the police sergeant in the face. The officer is out of the hospital tonight, the 19-year-old shooter was shot and killed by police early this morning.

The third attack happened in Kansas City, where the officer is now out of surgery and expected to make a full recovery. The officer was shot last night when a passenger jumped out of a car during a traffic stop.

ABC 17 News has been digging into this startling trend since the July officer killings in Dallas.

Multiple law enforcement officers say traffic stops can be one of the most dangerous duties because of the unknown.

Capt. Doug Shoemaker with Jefferson City Police Department says, “When an officer conducts a traffic stop, generally he or she doesn’t have any idea who they are walking up on.”

ABC 17’s Deborah Kendrick recently had a chance to experience firsthand what it’s like to be an officer doing a traffic stop and the potential situations officers face every day.

That special will air Wednesday night at 10 p.m., on ABC 17 News KMIZ.