The suspect involved in a shootout with Hoover police officers first fired multiple shots at a family on Interstate 459 in what authorities said appears to have been random.

Evan Rashad Lucas, 31, is charged with three counts of attempted murder in the Sunday incident, which happened just before 11:30 a.m. on I-459 between Morgan Road and John Hawkins Parkway, Hoover police Chief Nick Derzis announced Tuesday.

Those charges are for the three victims on I-459.

Lucas, injured a subsequent exchange of gunfire with officers, remains hospitalized but once released, will be held on $1.5 million.

Lucas’s family said they could not comment at this time.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is conducting a separate investigation into the shootout between officers and Lucas.

State investigators have not yet announced any charges against Lucas.

Derzis recapped Sunday’s events, saying the motorist – who has not been identified – was driving on the interstate with his wife and young son when he saw Lucas pull up beside him.

Lucas’s window was down, and he was pointing a gun at the family’s vehicle.

The man quickly put on his brakes, just in time to avoid five or six shots fired by Lucas, Derzis said.

“Thank goodness none of those bullets hit the vehicle or him or his wife and also his young son, who was in the backseat,’’ the chief said. “All indications are the shooting was random, and we don’t think those victims were specifically targeted for any reason.”

Derzis said there was no indication of a road-rage incidents. He said he has no idea why the suspect fired on the family’s vehicle.

“We don’t know,’’ he said, “and I don’t know if we’ll ever know.”

The motorist, as well as a witness, called Hoover 911 with a description of the vehicle and the suspect.

Officers immediately began looking in the area of U.S. 31 and Lorna Road, which is the direction the witnesses reported seeing the suspect headed.

A short time later, the suspect and his vehicle were located in front of the 3600 Building of The Hills at Hoover apartment complex just off Lorna Road.

“Contact was made, and he immediately became non-compliant, which led to him firing several rounds at police,’’ Derzis said.

One of the officers was struck in both arms, and was able to return fire, along with a second officer.

The officer, whose name is not being released, was taken to UAB Hospital where he was treated and released the same day.

Derzis said the wounded officer has been on Hoover’s force for six years, and previously worked for the Birmingham Police Department and the Dothan Police Department. He has a wife and three children.

Both officers who fired on Lucas are on administrative leave, which is standard procedure. The injured officer will also see a trauma specialist to cope with the mental aspect of the shooting.

“He’s hurting a little bit, but we expect him to make a full recovery,’’ Derzis said. “It’s miracle those bullets went right through without hitting any bones.”

“He’s a very experienced officer,’’ he said. “What he did at the scene was phenomenal. He’s getting shot and he returned fire.”

As the officer was being transported to UAB Hospital, law enforcement from around Shelby and Jefferson counties rushed to the apartment complex to offer assistance. They quickly established a perimeter, and negotiators from Hoover and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office began to try to communicate with Lucas.

Lucas’ family was also assisting law enforcement in the negotiations. Hoover Capt. Keith Czeskleba said Lucas did not communicate with the negotiators but eventually surrendered several hours later without further incident.

It was then authorities learned Lucas had been shot in the arm, and he was transported to the hospital.

Court records show no prior arrest history in Alabama for Lucas.

“As a police chief for almost 18 years, I think about it all the time, officers getting hurt, officers getting shot,’’ Derzis said. “The ultimate sacrifice is something that you never want to have.”

“I got that phone call (and) my heart went to my throat,’’ he said. “If you hear once or twice, it’s something you can’t ever get used to.”

These things happen so fast. We hope the training kicks in and I think it did this time,’’ Derzis said. “I think our officers responded very quickly. When we have something major happen, everybody shows up and it’s a great thing to see.”

Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said he was thankful the situation ended as it did.

“As I reflect back on it, there were so many opportunities for this to have turned out to be a much worse scene than what it was,’’ Brocato said. “Their training kicked in and they were able to resolve this without any loss of life. We’re grateful for that.”

The mayor said he wanted to take time to remind people who their police officers are.

“They are the men and women that stand in the gap for us each and every day without hesitation. That’s exactly what took place the other day,’’ he said.

“Just remember, these men and women are the same people that are sitting next to you at church, they’re the same people down at the ballpark coaching your kids, they do and act and live just like each and every one of us yet our society today continues to vilify police officers for some reason,’’ Brocato said. “It’s just insane as far as I’m concerned.”

“Hoover will always support law enforcement,’’ he said. “I hope the country at some point, those who don’t feel the same way I do, will wake up and understand exactly what these individuals stand for and what they’re trying to accomplish.”

As violence against officers continues, Derzis said he doesn’t know why people feel comfortable shooting at police.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. People to resolve conflict they just pull guns out and shoot,’’ he said. “In the old days, you might go hand to hand, fist to fist, but it seems like those days over.”

He talked about the anti-law enforcement sentiment and the culture of violence, especially video games that involve killing the police.

“I think sometimes that you hear in political news around the country talking about defund police, do away with police,’’ he said, “and maybe people hear that and think they can do anything to police.”