For the first time in 55 years, a police officer in Rochester, New York, was fatally shot during a shootout on Wednesday.

Daryl Pierson, 32, an eight-year veteran at the Rochester Police Departement, died Wednesday night while he was chasing a suspect on Hudson Avenue and Warsaw Street, reports CNYCentral.com. He leaves behind his wife and two young children.

According to officials, Pierson is the first member of the city's police force to be killed in the line of duty since 1959.

A bystander and Officer Michael Dipaola, who apprehended the suspect, were also wounded in the gunfire exchange. The suspect, who sources have identified to as Thomas Johnson III, 38, was wounded and taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, reports 13WHAM. Johnson was reportedly released from prison three weeks ago after serving time behind bars for second-degree attempted robbery.

At a news conference, Police Chief Michael Ciminelli applauded Pierson, an Army National Guard veteran who served in Afghanistan.

"It is with a sad and heavy heart that I come before you to announce that tonight we lost one of our own," Ciminelli said. "A police officer who gave his life in the line of duty, who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the people of Rochester.

Rochester Mayor Lovely A. Warren also spoke about the slain cop, asking the community to keep the officer's family in their prayers.

"Words simply cannot express the sense of sorrow and deep loss that we feel at this moment," Warren said. "A family has lost a loved one. The men and women of our police department have lost a family member and a friend. And we the people of Rochester have lost someone, who like every other RPD officer, put their life on the line day after day, for us."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered flags on state government buildings to be flown at half-staff on Friday in Pierson's honor.