Phoenix police are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred after a DPS trooper was shot during a traffic stop.
On June 19, 2023 just after 11:30 a.m., a Department of Public Safety trooper conducted a traffic stop on a car near 21st Avenue and Thomas Road. The driver of the car began shooting as the trooper walked towards the car. After the shooting, the suspect took off in the car. The trooper was struck by gunfire and transported to the hospital by the Phoenix Fire Department for non-life-threatening injuries.
Phoenix officers responded to the area to help DPS. A Phoenix officer spotted the suspect car driving near 27th Avenue and Garfield Street. The car briefly stopped at a home near 27th Avenue and Garfield Street and then drove away. The car continued to drive through the neighborhood before stopping near 35th Drive and Holly Street. An officer got out of his patrol Tahoe and gave commands to the suspect to get out of the car. The suspect fired a gun at the officer. The officer returned fire with his rifle. The suspect drove off north through the neighborhood.
Another officer was stopped at 36th Avenue and Encanto Boulevard. The suspect drove north on 36th Avenue past the officer and fired his gun at the fully marked police Tahoe with the officer inside. The officer’s Tahoe was struck by gunfire on the front quarter panel and the front windshield. The officer suffered minor injuries and was transported to the hospital by the Phoenix Fire Department.
The suspect continued to drive north on 36th Avenue until he reached the dead end near 36th Avenue and Lewis Avenue and collided with a wall. The suspect was found dead from a gunshot wound in the driver’s seat of the vehicle.
The trooper and officer have been released from the hospital.