A Port Arthur police officer who was recovering from a gunshot wound he received Saturday morning was released from Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth in Beaumont on Sunday, according to Port Arthur Police Chief Mark Blanton.

“He was released from the hospital. He’s still sore and he’s emotional after shooting someone,” Blanton said. He added that two bullets are still lodged in Bulls’ chest.

“It’s still there. The doctors said it will do more harm than good cutting it out. He may get a second opinion,” Blanton said.

Officer Matthew Bulls, 28, was shot after suspect Darnell Flanagan, 28, of Port Arthur, fired three shots at Bulls from a .25 caliber gun. Bulls was wearing a bullet-proof vest and returned fire eight times with six shots hitting Flanagan.

One shot struck Bulls in the chest and lodged in the vest while a second shot entered Bulls’ sternum and lodged in his chest. A third bullet flew toward a witness who as getting fuel, entering the person’s shirt and striking a cell phone before exiting.

About 12:05 a.m. Saturday, officers on patrol noticed a white GMC truck driving erratically and at speeds in excess of 100 mph. Flanagan eluded several officer. Bulls was nearly struck by the vehicle as Flanagan traveled north on Memorial Blvd.

Flanagan then pulled into the Raceway Convenience Store, 2705 Memorial Blvd. with Bulls in pursuit. The officer attempted to stop the driver but the driver resisted. Bulls deployed his Taser into the man but the suspect did not stop, police said.

Internal Affairs is investigating the incident and full autopsy results on Flanagan will not be available for some time because of the backlog associated with toxicology.