A Columbia police officer was shot in the chest during a traffic stop this morning.

The officer was wearing a bullet-proof vest, which did stop the bullet, Columbia Police Department spokesman Brick Lewis said. He is being treated at an area hospital.

The officer and his partner had stopped a dark-in-color sport utility vehicle around 4:50 a.m. at Wilmot Avenue and King Street. As the officer approached the suspect vehicle, someone inside fire a weapon. The SUV sped away.