14-Year-Old Suspect Fires Gun at Troopers in Phoenix Neighborhood

On Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at approximately 12:14 AM, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) trooper driving a fully marked patrol vehicle attempted to stop a Mercury passenger vehicle near Bethany Home Road and 31^stAvenue for driving without headlights on. 

The male suspect failed to yield to the trooper’s emergency lights and siren and continued to the area of 41^stand Maryland Avenues.  The suspect stopped his vehicle and immediately produced a handgun, firing at the troopers. One of the troopers returned fire with a rifle. The suspect then fled his vehicle and ran toward 43^rdAvenue.     

A Phoenix Police Department helicopter tracked the suspect to an alley southeast of Maryland and 43^rdAvenues, where he was taken into custody.   

The troopers and the suspect were not injured during the exchange of gunfire.  There were no passengers in the vehicle. 

The suspect is 14 years old and was booked into the Maricopa County Durango Juvenile Facility on charges of attempted first degree murder, aggravated assault, and misconduct with a weapon.   

AZDPS detectives are leading the investigation and updates will be provided when they become available.