A suburban Twin Cities police officer was shot and killed Monday during a struggle with a man who was also fatally shot, authorities said.

Richard Crittenden, a nine-year veteran of the North St. Paul Police Department, and a Maplewood police officer were responding to a domestic call when they ended up in a struggle with a 35-year-old male suspect, said North St. Paul Police Chief Tom Lauth.

Crittenden, 57, and the suspect were fatally shot, authorities said. The Maplewood officer, whose name wasn't immediately released, was shot in the arm. She was treated at Regions Hospital in St. Paul and released.

Crittenden had started his shift at 7 a.m. According to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, a woman called police to report a violation of an order of protection. When police arrived at around 8:30 a.m., they confronted a male suspect and the struggle ensued, reports CBS station WCCO in Minneapolis.

Lauth said he could not yet say exactly what happened. He said the Maplewood officer discharged her gun, but he did not say whether the suspect had a weapon. Investigators were interviewing witnesses and others who were in the area at the time, he said.

"The scene was quite chaotic and it's going to take some time to sort it out," Lauth said.

WCCO reports that the suspect who was killed is Devon Dockery. Dockery has a criminal history of domestic abuse and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Police have not officially released release the suspect's name. Lauth described him as having a criminal record and said officers had responded to the address at least twice in the past, including on Sunday.

"We won't be able to answer why such an upstanding law enforcement officer lost his life today," Lauth said at a news conference Monday afternoon.

Crittenden led North St. Paul's motorcycle officer program, was a former Wabasha County deputy and spent numerous years with the Hennepin County Parks and Water Department. As an older officer, Lauth said Crittenden was a fatherly figure to younger officers and had a great sense of humor, putting people at ease.

"This man was a husband, he's a father, he's a son, he's a brother to many. Not just to his family but to law enforcement. He's also a grandfather. The loss here goes way beyond words," said Lauth.

"Officer Crittenden will be severely missed. It goes beyond our family here of law enforcement, department and other agencies. Amongst his only family it's just a tragic loss," he said.

Crittenden was also a veteran of the U.S. Army.

The shooting has reminded law enforcement officers how dangerous responding to something as routine as a domestic call can be.

"This happened so quickly," Lauth said. "It could have been any one of us."