Officer-involved shooting closes Phoenix intersection
Mar 18, 2014, 11:04 AM | Updated: 9:06 pm
PHOENIX — A carjacking suspect who tried to ram a vehicle through police cars and toward freedom, was shot and killed Tuesday in downtown Phoenix.
Phoenix Police Sgt. Trent Crump told Fox 10 a male suspect was shot after a carjacking.
Jessica Hicks, 23, was with the suspect and was unharmed. She has since been booked for first degree murder and armed robbery. The deceased victim’s name has not yet been released, due to next of kin notifications.
“We believe that a victim was carjacked in a parking garage,” Crump said. “The suspect came out after the carjacking of this vehicle and he was rammed by one of the police vehicles and, ultimately, the suspect was shot.”
Witnesses at cityscape hear one shot after two pickups collided on Jefferson. An armored car appeared. A single shot.
— Michael Kiefer (@michaelbkiefer) March 18, 2014
Crump later told the assembled media that the suspect was killed. The suspect has not been identified.
Police began tracking the suspect in northwest Phoenix on suspicion that he was driving a stolen vehicle. They followed him to downtown Phoenix, where he allegedly took the second vehicle.
An officer was injured and hospitalized. There was no word on his condition or injuries.
Twitter photos showed the suspect vehicle may have struck a Subway restaurant.
The area of the shooting was closed to traffic during the investigation.
Downtown 1st Ave and Washington is being restricted by #PhxPD for a police incident. Avoid the area.
— Phoenix Police (@phoenixpolice) March 18, 2014
People were asked to avoid the area.
The shooting affected light rail service and traffic in the area and will do so until 10 or 11 p.m. The bi-directional shuttle train and buses will continue to transport passengers between 12th Street and Roosevelt until the scene is cleared, Valley Metro’s Melissa Quillard said.
Service Alert: Expect light rail delays in excess of 20 minutes due to a police incident at 1st/Jefferson.
— Valley Metro (@valleymetro) March 18, 2014
Valley Metro told 12 News a shuttle service was being setup to transport light rail passengers around the closure.
KTAR’s Sandra Haros contributed to this report.
