Phoenix police officer dies, another critically hurt in shootout
PHOENIX — A Phoenix police officer died and another was in critical condition after a shootout Monday that also killed a man wanted on a felony warrant, authorities said.
The member of the Police Department’s fugitive apprehension team died of his wounds at a hospital a few hours after the 3:30 p.m. shooting, Police Chief Daniel Garcia said.
Garcia said the officer was a 21-year veteran. His name was not immediately released.
“The other officer is fighting for his life,” Garcia said at a news conference. That officer, a nine-year veteran of the force, also hadn’t been publicly identified by late Monday.
The shootout occurred after the suspect fled in a car, caused a three-vehicle collision, then ran before exchanging gunfire with officers outside a check cashing and title loan business, authorities said.
“It was obvious that the guy was out of control,” said Wayne Monton, who owns a nearby business and witnessed the shooting. “After the crash and the shooting, everybody just took off running. It was chaos.”
The suspect came around a corner with a gun and a third officer fatally shot him, Det. James Holmes said.
The suspect’s name was not immediately released.
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