School Officer Shot In The Chest In SoCal

   LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Authorities say a bulletproof vest has saved the life of a Los Angeles school police officer who was shot as he confronted a man near a high school.

   Authorities say the officer was shot as he confronted a man who appeared to breaking into cars near El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills shortly after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

   City Police Chief Charlie Beck says the man got out of a car and fired several times, hitting the officer at least once in the chest. Dr. Stephen Jones at Northridge Hospital Medical Center says the officer's vest stopped the bullet, leaving his chest bruised, and he also suffered bumps and bruises when he fell.

   Beck says more than 350 law enforcement officers are scouring the neighborhood and nine schools have been locked down.

   (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)