Baltimore police are investigating leads after an officer was shot in the leg by a man who sprung from behind bushes in Southwest Baltimore on Saturday.

The officer, Pedro Perez, 24, who graduated from the police academy last summer, was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center after being shot above the right knee, city police said.

He was released by the afternoon in good condition, said police spokesman Sterling Clifford.

“We have a couple of persons of interest, and detectives are actively pursuing leads, but nobody’s in custody at this time,” Clifford said Sunday afternoon. “Most of the information we’ve gotten so far has come from members of the community who have been extremely helpful.”

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Around 1 a.m. Saturday, Perez and his partner had been talking to two men loitering at the 100 block of Palormo Avenue when the gunman came from the bushes a short distance away.

The suspect fired at least three shots before fleeing the area, police said.

Police do not have any reason to believe the two other men were connected with the shooter. They were questioned as witnesses, Clifford said.

“It’s definitely a street that’s had some problems,” Clifford said. “That’s why police were there.”

Police said they are not ready to release a description of the shooter at this time.

This is the second time a Baltimore officer was shot this year. In January, an officer was shot in the foot during a drug raid, Clifford said.

jkowalkowski@baltimoreexaminer.com