(WSBT) A South Bend police officer is dead and another hurt in an early morning shootout. Now, the department and the community are left in disbelief as they are forced to say goodbye to another fallen hero.

Cpl. Nick Polizzotto and Officer Michael Norby responded to the Wooden Indian Motel around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Norby was shot in the shoulder. He was treated and released from Memorial Hospital late this afternoon.

Cpl. Polizzotto, a nine-year veteran of the force, died from his injuries.

Police are hoping to learn more from an autopsy on Cpl. Polizzotto and the suspect Tuesday night.

It was the last scene they expected to find just hours after saying goodbye to Cpl. Scott Severns, killed one year ago Monday. It seemed surreal as officers got the call that an officer was down, but to Cpl. Polizzotto and Officer Norby, it was their job.

They arrived to confront a man neighbors said had been firing shots "randomly" in the parking lot of the nearby Club Landing nightclub. He then allegedly ran back to his apartment at the Wooden Indian Motel, room no. 127 on the second floor.

At a press conference late Tuesday afternoon, St. Joseph County officials recounted what happened next.

"Cpl. Polizzotto and Patrolman Norby knocked on the door of the apartment, and the suspect answered," said St. Joseph County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak. "Cpl. Polizzotto and Patrolman Norby spoke with the suspect for an estimated ten to fifteen seconds before the suspect began shooting at the officers. Cpl. Polizzotto and Patrolman Norby were hit by the gunfire."

Dvorak said Cpl. Polizzotto was hit in an area not covered by his bullet resistant vest. Officer Norby, who was also wearing a bullet resistant vest, was hit in the shoulder.

Norby returned fire, along with another officer who was on scene named Nick Zarate. The still unnamed suspect was hit and pronounced dead on scene. Both Norby and Polizzotto were pulled out of the line of fire by officers David Newton and Antoin Jones.

It's not the first time any of the officers have faced danger at the Wooden Indian Motel. Police have responded to 109 calls there in the last year alone.

When asked at the press conference by WSBT News if there's anything the city can do to eliminate the problems there, South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke said the city is trying.

"We continue to enforce all the local ordinances and state laws we can to encourage property owners to take responsibility for their properties," he said. "We certainly will continue to look at opportunities to cite them as a nuisance property and to apply pressure at this property and at any property with unlawful activities."

Meanwhile, officers are joining with the community for another bitter goodbye to another dedicated and decorate brother, friend, and hero.

"There is no big red 'S' on our chest," said St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit Commander Tim Corbett. "We get shot because people want to shoot us. This is an ugly, ugly world, and we still have to go out and fight that."

Officers are joining with the community Tuesday night to mourn Cpl. Polizzatto's sacrifice. They have requested, along with Mayor Luecke, that flags fly at half staff for 30 days in his honor.

WSBT Exclusive: Watch Tuesday afternoon’s press conference.