Suspect under influence in Arizona DPS shooting, court documents say

PHOENIX — The suspect in the fatal shooting of an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper was under the influence at the time of the shooting, according to court documents released to KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday.

Isaac Damon King was allegedly under the influence of drugs or alcohol when he was arrested on Interstate 10 last week in the shooting death of trooper Tyler Edenhofer. The court documents did not specify what King was alleged to be under the influence of.

The July 25 incident occurred after the Arizona Department of Public Safety received several calls from citizens about King, who was walking in the eastbound traffic lanes of the highway near Dysart Road in Avondale. He was also reported to be throwing rocks at vehicles.

Edenhofer and his field training instructor trooper Sean Rodecap were the first to respond to the calls. Trooper Dalin Dorris also responded to the calls after a driver reported that someone had thrown a rock at his vehicle and shattered his window.

Court documents showed that Dorris was the first person to locate King and called for an additional unit to respond for assistance. When Edenhofer and Rodecap arrived on scene minutes later, King was allegedly fighting Dorris within a ravine near the I-10. King then reportedly also fought Edenhofer and Rodecap.

During the struggle, King allegedly got hold of Rodecap’s .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, fired one round at Edenhofer, which struck him in his collarbone, and fired a second round at Dorris, which hit him in the shoulder.

It was not clear how King got hold of the gun. Col. Frank Milstead with the Arizona Department of Public Safety said the gun was in a leather holster that was secured to Rodecap’s belt.

King then reportedly continued to fight as troopers and officers from Goodyear, Avondale and Peoria arrived on the scene and took him to the ground. A taser was also used in an effort to subdue King, but it was ineffective.

Edenhofer was pronounced dead on the scene. Dorris and Rodecap were also transported to local hospitals for their injuries, but were released shortly after. King was admitted to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Phoenix for treatment for his injuries and was in a medically induced coma for a time.

Court documents showed that Goodyear police overheard King make statements about shooting the officers while he was detained. King was also accused of reportedly telling emergency officials that he was resisting arrest when he shot the troopers.

King was charged Sunday with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated assault involving an officer’s firearm, three counts of endangerment and one count of resisting arrest.

King, 20, had a history of mental health issues and had been taking medication for anxiety and depression. He did not have a criminal history, Milstead said.

Edenhofer was killed just two months after graduating from the Arizona Department of Public Safety academy. The 24-year-old U.S. Navy veteran was engaged to be married.

A candlelight vigil was scheduled for Monday night on the lawn of the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix with Gov. Doug Ducey scheduled to attend.

Edenhofer’s funeral is set for Friday in Peoria.

King will appear in court next on Aug. 6 for a status conference. He has not entered a plea. Seth Apfel, an attorney for King, didn’t immediately return a call Monday seeking comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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