A former Fukuoka police officer was seriously wounded Thursday after a gunman fired two shots at him on a street in Kitakyushu before fleeing the scene on a motorcycle, police said.

The attack took place shortly after 7 a.m. about 300 meters from the home of the 61-year-old victim, who was hit near the waist and left leg.

The former inspector was in charge of an investigation into the Kudo-kai crime syndicate until he retired from the force in March 2011, the police said, adding they believe the assailant is a Kudo-kai member.