A Boston police officer who was honored for his role in helping in the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing is currently fighting for his life after being shot in the face during a traffic stop.

Officer John T. Moynihan, a 34-year-old six-year veteran, was shot around 6:40 p.m. Friday during a routine traffic stop in Roxbury. After officers with the city's Youth Violence Task Force pulled the vehicle over and exited their cars, the suspect jumped out of his car and opened fire on police officers, striking Moynihan under his right eye and a bystander in the arm.

"It was a case of a motor vehicle stop with the suspect coming out [and] firing at officers before they had any time to react," Police Commissioner William Evans said, adding that he is not sure why cops stopped the vehicle, reports Boston.com.

The suspect, who officials tentatively identified as Angelo West, 41, of Hyde Park, was shot and killed at the scene.

The wounded officer was then taken to Boston Medical Center, where he has been listed in critical condition and placed in an induced coma. According Boston.com, doctors are concerned that he is suffering from bleeding in the brain.

The bystander, however, is being treated for a flesh wound on her arm.

"I think she got caught up in the crossfire," Evans said. "She is in good spirits, thank God."

Meanwhile, two other passengers in the suspect's car were arrested on charges unrelated to the shooting. One had a warrant and one had an outstanding probation violation, said Evans.

According to The Associated Press, Officer Moynihan was honored for his effort in helping to save a transit officer who was wounded in the Watertown shootout with the alleged Boston Marathon bombers just days after the bombing.

Moynihan and 16 other Boston officers also received the National Association of Police Organizations' "Top Cop" award at the White House last year.

Evans described Moynihan as a "highly decorated military vet" who served as an Army Ranger in Iraq and one of the Youth Violence Task Force's "most outstanding officers."

"Knock on wood, we don't have these incidents happen often," Evans said. "But we've got too many guns out there, too many young kids running around with guns. And unfortunately, this is what happens."

"The officer here is in tough shape, but we're all pulling for him, and hopefully he'll pull through. His family's with him, the clergy has been here and ... let's pray for him," Evans added.