Nicholas Cody Cowan, the suspect in the shooting of a Phoenix Police officer on Thursday, has been arrested. Cowan was taken into custody after a three-day manhunt.
Phoenix Police received a citizen tip that Cowan was staying at a rental property in Scottsdale near 66th Street and Osborn Road. Officers from the Phoenix Police Department Tactical Support Bureau surrounded the property and negotiated with Cowan for several hours to encourage a surrender. Cowan was eventually taken into custody at about 7:45 p.m. inside the residence. He was transported to a local hospital to receive medical treatment for apparent gunshot wounds that he likely sustained during the shootout with police on Thursday morning. Upon release from the hospital, Cowan will be booked on multiple charges.
Investigators believe Cowan was assisted by several people over the last few days and have arrested and booked 33-year-old Nicole Montalbano for her role in aiding him. Multiple search warrants were served at locations across the valley while investigators followed up on leads during the manhunt.
The officer shot by Cowan continues to recover in the hospital.
Nicholas Cowan, the suspect wanted for shooting a Phoenix Police Officer, has been arrested. pic.twitter.com/xe167OLZot
— Phoenix Police (@PhoenixPolice) April 18, 2022
On April 14, 2022, at about 10:15 a.m., Phoenix Police responded to a suicidal person call at a gas station near Cave Creek Road and Beardsley Road. Officers contacted the adult female caller who stated she left her home and came to the gas station to call police to avoid a confrontation with her boyfriend. The woman told officers her boyfriend, Cowan, had committed several criminal acts, and attempted to commit suicide. She said he also made threats to shoot it out with the police if they were called.
While the officers were speaking to the woman, Cowan arrived at the gas station in a vehicle. As an officer was walking toward Cowan, he fired a handgun from inside the vehicle, striking the officer. A backup officer responded to the threat and returned fire while the suspect continued shooting at the backup officer.
Cowan fled the area in his vehicle, which was later located unoccupied.