In the ninth shooting to involve police during the first seven days of 2008, police officers shot and wounded an unarmed suspect who led them on a car chase through the Bronx yesterday, police officials said.

The confrontation happened at about 11:30 a.m., as plainclothes anti-crime officers on patrol attempted to stop the suspect as he was driving near Jerome Avenue and Kingsbridge Road, police said. The suspect fled in his car as the officers approached, prompting them to jump in their unmarked car and give chase, police said.

After the suspect’s vehicle became stuck in traffic near West Kingsbridge Road and Aqueduct Avenue, about three blocks away, police tried to stop him again. According to police officials, the officers approached the vehicle and demanded to see the suspect’s identification.

The suspect tried to drive away a second time, injuring both officers as he did so, according to the police account. Police officers fired three shots at the suspect during the struggle, hitting him once in the leg, officials said.

The suspect was treated at St. Barnabas Hospital with a non-life-threatening injury, and both officers were taken to Jacobi Medical Center. Police officials said the officers’ injuries were also non-life-threatening.

Police said they were investigating the incident, and could not say yet whether the shooting was justified under department guidelines. NYPD guidelines forbid shooting at a moving vehicle unless the driver or occupants are wielding a deadly weapon other than the vehicle itself.

Police had not yet identified the suspect as of yesterday evening, and officials said charges against him are pending. Police sources said investigators believe the suspect may be a fugitive from Pennsylvania and said they were checking to see if his fingerprints match a suspect wanted there.