Officers were dispatched to the rear of the New Holland Market shopping center after reports of a domestic disturbance involving a man and a woman, a department spokesperson said. When officers arrived, the man fired at one of them, according to the department. The officer returned fire and struck the suspect.

The suspect was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition Thursday. Police have not released his identity.

The officer was taken to a hospital for observation and evaluation. The department did not specify his condition or release his name.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been requested to take over the inquiry, which the department described as customary for shootings involving law enforcement officers. The GBI's involvement means an outside agency will examine the circumstances of the encounter, including the use of force, rather than the department reviewing its own officer's actions.

No further details about what prompted the domestic disturbance call, how many officers responded, or whether anyone else was injured were immediately available. The department has not said whether the officer who fired was placed on administrative leave, a step many agencies take during outside investigations.

The New Holland Market area is a commercial hub in Gainesville, and the shooting occurred in a rear section of the property that is typically used for parking and deliveries. It was not immediately clear whether nearby businesses were affected or whether any bystanders were present.

Shootings involving police in Georgia are routinely referred to the GBI, which investigates and forwards its findings to the local district attorney for review. That process can take weeks or months before any determination is made about whether the use of force was justified.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Gainesville Police Department or the GBI. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.