(Elwood, IN) - A central Indiana police officer was gunned down early Sunday morning. It happened in the sleepy town of Elwood, 50 miles northeast of Indianapolis.

According to reports, 24-year-old Elwood police officer Noah Shahnavaz stopped a Buick LaCrosse just after 2 a.m. The driver exited the car and opened fire, killing the officer. State police say the suspect was apprehended about 30 minutes later after a car chase.

The 42-year-old gunman from Anderson has a criminal record, including a 2006 conviction for shooting at police.

Shahnavaz was a U.S. Army veteran who had been an Elwood officer for only 11 months.