A couple, Howard Lamar Johnson and Sonia Hernandez, was arrested in connection with the shooting of an Arizona trooper near the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway and 19th Avenue in Phoenix on Thursday afternoon.
The 34-year-old Johnson was booked into jail on multiple counts, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The 27-year-old Hernandez was booked on multiple counts for allegedly helping Johnson.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, on May 25, 2023, around 12:40 p.m., officers responded to the area of 20400 North 19th Avenue to back up a AZDPS trooper. Details on the call indicated that the AZDPS trooper was involved in a shooting and had suffered at least one gunshot wound. The trooper was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Phoenix police detectives took over the investigation and quickly identified Johnson as the suspect. Phoenix police tracked the Johnson to an apartment complex near 9100 North 67th Avenue. After a short barricade, Johnson was taken into custody.