Story By:  Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

This is the moment an off-duty cop shoots a gunman in the face after he jumped off his accomplice’s motorbike and tried to rob an old lady on the pavement.

The officer-involved shooting took place at San Martin Park in the town of Merlo in the Argentine province of Buenos Aires at 6pm on 3rd June.

According to local reports, the suspect pointed his gun at the 68-year-old woman while she was walking along the pavement with her granddaughters.

In the CCTV footage, the suspect is seen arriving on the scene with an accomplice on a motorbike before jumping off the back and running over to confront the victim.

In that moment, the off-duty cop, seen wearing a white sweatshirt, takes out his gun and shoots the man. He reportedly shouted a warning to the suspect first.

The suspect falls to the ground and the victim runs off to join her granddaughters.

Meanwhile, the cop, who is in the company of a minor, apparently his son, stands guard over the suspect with his gun raised.

The 28-year-old suspect was admitted to the Eva Peron Municipal Hospital with a gunshot wound that entered through his cheekbone and exited behind the ear, according to reports.

Doctors said only the suspect’s jaw has been affected and he is not currently in any danger.

He was reportedly found in possession of a Colt 25 automatic pistol with the serial number filed off.

Prosecutor Sergio Dileo said they will take a statement from the 68-year-old victim of the attempted robbery, and confirmed that they have yet to track down the suspect’s accomplice.

Dileo added that the Public Prosecutor’s Office is also investigating the off-duty cop to establish whether his actions were lawful.