Moment gunman opened fire on police with AK47 and was shot by police during a routine traffic stop

Authorities released terrifying footage of an armed madman shooting up a patrol car in Middlefield, Ohio, turning a routine traffic stop into a combat zone.

Local police told reporters on Friday that they still have no clue why James Gilkerson fired 37 shots at two officers using an AK-47 style assault rifle after the officers pulled him over on March 10, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.

‘He got of the vehicle, intending to kill my officers. We don't know why he did it,’ said Middlefield Police Chief Arnold Stanko.

Scroll down for video (Warning: graphic content)

Routine stop: The cops flagged down James Gilkerson's car in a routine traffic stop

Open fire: After several seconds of being pulled over Gilkerson jumped out of his car and began firing at the two officers behind him

The two officers, Erin Thomas and Brandon Savage, returned fire and killed Gilkerson, 42, piercing him with multiple shots.

In the video, Gilkerson can be seen jumping out of his car, which had been pulled over for failing to stop at an intersection, according to the News-Herald, and opening fire on Thomas and Savage.

Thomas, who was reportedly outside the patrol car on the driver's side, can be heard giving a surprised yell as bullets berate the car’s windshield during the unprovoked shootout.
Savage fired back through his own windshield as he and Thomas took down the psychotic gunman.

Stanko said cops found eight 40-round magazines inside Gilkerson's car, along with combat books, including ‘Backyard Rocketry: Converting Model Rockets Into Explosive Missiles,’ and ‘Homemade Detonators: How To Make Them.’

Officer Thomas lost a finger in the attack.

Officer Savage suffered minor injuries.

Lake County prosecutors have called the cops' actions justified.

Reloading: Gilkerson got on one knee to reload

Defeated: The two officers finally took the gunman down piercing him with several shots

Baffled: Local police told reporters on Friday that they still have no clue why James Gilkerson fired 37 shots at two officers using an AK-47 style assault rifle

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