Former Monmouth Junction Firefighter Shot While on Duty with Columbia (S.C.) Police this Morning

A former firefighter with the Monmouth Junction Fire Department was hospitalized after he was shot in the chest while on duty with the Columbia (S.C.) Police Department this morning.

Alexander Broder, who graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy at the beginning of April, was shot during a traffic stop at 4:50 a.m. this morning, according to South Carolina news site TheState.com.

Broder served with the Monmouth Junction Fire Department for about six years. He was wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of the shooting, which most likely saved his life, and is in good spirits according to Doug Wolfe of the Monmouth Junction Fire Department.

"I talked to Alex this morning from the hospital and he's doing alright," Wolfe said.  "He's still getting over the shock of being shot, but all things considered he's doing very well."

According to the report, officers in a Columbia police patrol car stopped a black sport utility vehicle, which was then approached by Broder.   The suspect, Blakely Jernigan, 22, of Columbia, got out of the vehicle and fired his weapon, which hit Broder in the chest and knocked him down, according to the report.  

Jernigan was shot and killed at around 7 a.m. this morning after walking out of a residence surrounded by police and firing on officers with an AK-47 assault rifle, according to the report.  

Columbia Police could not be reached for comment.

Wolfe said that Broder was an ideal firefighter during his time with the department.

"Alex was an excellent firefighter and he was very knowledgeable," Wolfe said.  "He went to school for fire and police and he really knew what was going on."

Broder eventually moved to South Carolina in Oct. 2010 to pursue his dream of a career in law enforcement, Wolfe said.  Luckily, Broder is expected to make a full recovery.

"Alex was as interested in law enforcement as he was in firefighting," Wolfe said.  "Unfortunately there were more opportunities out there for a job in law enforcement then there were around here, so that was the direction he went in."