Authorities in Tennessee are searching for a suspect who shot and killed a Memphis police officer during a traffic stop on Saturday evening.

The officer died in the hospital after suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The deceased officer has since been identified as 33-year-old Sean Bolton. He joined the force in October 2010. Bolton was shot around 9p.m. at a traffic stop.

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According to Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong, officials received a distress call that an officer had been shot at 9:15 p.m. Officials are investigating the circumstances that lead to the fatal incident and the shooter's motives.

A manhunt is ongoing for the suspect and authorities are confident of making an arrest as all available resources are being employed in the search.

"The suspect responsible is still at large and officers are in they are attempting to locate him," an official police statement said.

While calling for a prayer for the city and Bolton's family, the Mayor of Memphis A.C. Wharton Jr. said the incident is a testament to the dangers of police work.

"This speaks volumes about the inherent danger of police work in general," he said. "Pray for the family and pray for our city."

The fatal incident reinforces increasingly concerns about the dangers police officers in the city face while on the line duty. Bolton is the third police officer to be shot and killed in Memphis in four years.

In July 2011, Officer Tim Warrne was killed while responding to a shooting incident in a downtown Memphis hotel. Also, Officer Martoiya Lang was killed in December 2012 while serving a warrant.

"It doesn't get any easier," Armstrong said during a press conference. "Sadly to say, we've been here before."

"This is a very difficult time, not only for me a director, but for all officers that you see standing behind me and a difficult time for our city as well.

"We're talking about, from what we know, routine traffic stop...results in an officer losing his life."

TagsSean Bolton, Memphis Police Officer Shot, Memphis Police Officer Killed