The incident started when the officers pulled over a Chevy Tahoe near 54th and Summer streets around 7:40 p.m. Thursday.
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Police say a suspect inside the Tahoe fired at least one shot toward the two officers who were inside a police cruiser.
Police say the shooter got out of the vehicle and ran away.
That's when an officer returned fire, discharging his weapon one time, investigators said.
Chopper 6 over West Philly after shots were fired at officers
Three other people in the SUV drove off but crashed nearby.
Police say they arrested the shooter and two others after a brief foot chase.
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A fourth person is still at large.
No one was wounded by the gunfire.
"They're very dangerous situations - you don't know what you're getting into. When you pull somebody over for a particular offense, you don't know what they're thinking," Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Krista Dahl-Campbell said.
Police recovered the weapon involved.
Authorities have not said why officers pulled the vehicle over.
Tips about this shooting can be submitted anonymously on the police department's website.
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