A New Jersey state trooper is recovering after being shot early Thursday morning in Paterson.

One person has been arrested, but the search is on for others wanted in connection to the shooting.

Officials say that the trooper underwent surgery and is in stable condition after being shot in the lower leg.

“He’s got a little ways to go, but expecting full recovery is always awesome news,” says New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan.

Callahan says that the state police detective, who has not been publicly identified, is doing well.

“He is in stable condition and the leg is in good, stable condition,” says Dr. Benjamin Rebein, of St. Joseph's Medical Center. “When he did get here, there were no major vascular injuries. The bleeding he has was mostly of a muscular nature.

The shooting happened just before 1 a.m. near 28th and Ninth streets. Neighbors says that they clearly heard the gunshots. They said there were about 10.

‘I heard the gunshots, cars speeding. Another car speeding and then more gunshots,” says Alicia Allen.

She says she saw what seemed to be a parade of state troopers arrive after the shooting.

“This is brazen. This is unfortunately the warped world we live in where people are shooting at cops,” says Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh.

A motive behind the shooting was not immediately made clear.

Callahan says that the trooper was sitting in his vehicle when fired upon, and that what he did next may have saved his life

"His efforts to apply a tourniquet immediately after he was shot to himself, as well as the troopers who threw him in a troop car and got him here within minutes - really a phenomenal effort,” the colonel says.

Police say that as many as three other people are wanted in connection to the investigation.