team coverage begins with brendon hudson at the folcroft fire department where we get up to date. >> reporter: jim, we just learned officer christopher dorman was trying to break up a drug deal by one described as a criminal. the suspected shooter had been to prison before. >> i'm shot, i'm shot! >> a terrifying call about shots fired. we now know what led up to officer christopher dorman shot zem zem seven times. >> a scuffle ensued, and the defendant callously drew his weapon and fired at officer dorman. >> reporter: delaware county district attorney says dorman was able to run away from the gunfire. two other folcroft officers showed up to help. police say the shooter is dante brooks island known as abdu abdul wahi who just served 15 years behind bars. >> we also learned the defendant is a career criminal, a drug dealer. >> reporter: police say dorman saw island selling drugs behind an apartment building at 10:00 in the morning. dorman shot in the confrontation. swat and fbi moved to get the shooter forcing neighbors from their homes. they left with three other people in custody.

team coverage begins with brendon hudson at the folcroft fire department where we get up to date. >> reporter: jim, we just learned officer christopher dorman was trying to break up a drug deal by one described as a criminal. the suspected shooter had been

we begin with nbc 10 ease brandon hudson with details on how the suspect and officer came into contact with each other. brendonorter: rosemary and keith, we'll be spoken to any moment, get answers on the suspect and moments that led up to the shooting. [ inaudible ] >> reporter: hours after police broadcasted the shooter's description, we saw swat at folcroft station apartments. officer dorman shot there this morning, calling for help in a middle of a gunfight. >> i'm shot, i'm shot, i'm shot! >> reporter: hit more than once, including a bullet to the face, but police say he was able to talk. we spoke to neighbors. >> it's a bb gun or something like that going on, and then my dad told us to rush in, it was a serious thing, and it got loud. >> reporter: families waited as swat captured the suspects.