CAMDEN, N.J. -- A Camden City police officer was shot Friday after responding to a call of a man with a gun on Bailey Street, police said.

The 34-year-old officer was listed in good condition at Cooper University Hospital and expected to make a full recovery.

Meanwhile, a woman came forward after the shooting and told police the alleged gunman was her son, NBC 10's Mike Strug reported from the scene.

Investigators later identified Ahmad Cherry, 22, of Elm Street in Camden, as a suspect in the shooting and said they were searching for him.

The shooting occurred after a 5:27 p.m. call of a man with a gun near a vacant lot at 7th and Bailey streets in North Camden, police said. Officers responding to the call spotted the man as he ducked into an alley behind nearby homes.

"Our officers continued pursuit and were ambushed, actually, in the alleyway," said Arturo Venegas of the police department.

The gunman turned and allegedly fired five to eight shots. Police said they did not return fire.

Neighbor Jason Ruiz said he heard what sounded like "fireworks, a big bang four times."

Officer Dan Vaultier was struck in both legs, police said, but Venegas said doctors called it "a clean shot through -- no vein or bone damage. As a matter of fact, he's fine. He's talking about coming back to work."

Within minutes, police launched a massive search for the gunman who got away.

"We have folks in uniform going house to house, specifically the abandoned homes," Venegas said. "In addition to that, we have investigators retracing as much of the information that we can get to try to identify the individual and any other place he may be hiding."

The area looked like an armed camp shortly afterward, as police closed off streets and called in a SWAT unit, police K9s and a helicopter to look for the shooter.

Capt. Joseph F. Richardson said Vaultier is a nine-year veteran, "a young and very dedicated officer."