Officers, troopers, and deputies from multiple agencies spent several hours Wednesday night trying to defuse a domestic violence situation that crossed into two counites, but the stand-off ended when the suspect in an investigation into alleged child sexual abuse shot himself in the head.
The man was flown to a Tucson trauma hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. On Thursday afternoon, the man was in critical condition, according to Willcox Police Chief Dale Hadfield. The man’s name had not been released as of press time.
Hadfield provided a summary of the incident, which started around 7:30 p.m. when Willcox officers were dispatched to a domestic violence report. The man reportedly made threats toward his wife while in possession of a firearm which he could not legally possess.
Local officers then requested backup from the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office after learning the suspect was wanted in connection to an ongoing CCSO investigation related to sexual abuse of a minor. The man fled the scene before officers and deputies arrived but he returned a short time later.
It was then that the man confirmed he was in possession of a firearm, Hadfield said.
A short while later, the suspect fled the area again, using his vehicle to ram a CCSO patrol car. The decision was made to pursue the suspect due to the man’s “propensity for violence” and the danger he posed to the public, Hadfield said.
The man eventually made it onto Interstate 10 before traveling northbound on North U.S. Highway 191 toward Graham County. Willcox officers requested additional support from the Graham County Sheriff’s Office as well as troopers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The DPS “Ranger” helicopter was also called in to help track the man’s vehicle.
“The vehicle traveled into Graham County and then turned around and began heading south on North Hwy 191, then eastbound on I-10 heading back to Willcox,” Hadfield said. “Officers deployed spike strips which failed to stop the vehicle and it continued toward Willcox.”
Once in Willcox, a CCSO deputy successfully deployed another set of spike strips. The maneuver flatted the vehicle’s front right tire but the driver did not stop.
Next, a DPS trooper deployed a Grappler Police Bumper System, which “snagged” the suspect’s vehicle through the use of a heavy duty strap around a rear tire. This disabled the vehicle and caused it to come to a stop.
The suspect then placed a handgun to his head while still sitting in the driver’s seat. He made repeated statements about “suicide by cop,” which involves acting in a violent or threatening manner to force a peace officer to shoot.
Verbal contact was made with the suspect in hopes he would put down the gun and surrender. Instead, he suddenly shot himself in the head, nearly 2 ½ hours after the initial 911 call.
EMS personnel began life-saving treatment until the man could be flown to Tucson in the same DPS helicopter used to track his movements on the roadway.
Hadfield told Arizona Daily Independent that additional information will be released when it comes available.
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