A suspect fired on a Phoenix Police Department helicopter and is now hospitalized.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, on March 22, 2026, at about 1:55 a.m., officers responded to the area of 38th Street and Thomas Road for calls of shots being fired. Officers arriving in the area heard multiple gunshots and began circulating to determine where the shots were coming from. The Phoenix Police Air Unit also responded and began searching the area. The pilot and observer located an adult male on the back patio of an apartment. As the helicopter guided officers toward the location, the man raised a gun and fired several shots at the aircraft.
The pilot maneuvered the helicopter to a safe distance while arriving officers deployed drones to obtain a clear visual of the subject. Additional officers went to neighboring apartments and began evacuations to move community members away from the gunfire. As evacuations were taking place, officers observed the man raise a gun and fire at the helicopter a second time, at which point the officer‑involved shooting occurred.
Using the drones, officers confirmed the man had been struck by gunfire and saw a handgun near him. Officers entered the apartment, and located the man on the back patio in critical condition. Phoenix Fire Department personnel transported him to a local hospital with life‑threatening injuries.
No community members or officers were injured.
This investigation is being handled by the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Major Incident Division.
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