DPS trooper survives ‘fight for his life’ by fatally shooting suspect in Tempe
Dec 20, 2019, 5:56 AM | Updated: Dec 21, 2019, 2:39 pm
PHOENIX – An Arizona state trooper survived “a fight for his life” by fatally shooting a violent suspect late Thursday night in Tempe, authorities said Friday.
Trooper Hugh Grant encountered 25-year-old Ahmed E A Al-Hashemi acting erratically on Rural Road south of the Loop 202 around 11:50 p.m., Arizona Department of Public Safety Director Frank Milstead said at a press conference during which dashboard camera video was shown.
A citizen observer from Mothers Against Drunk Driving was with Grant on a ride-along during the incident.
The suspect, who had knocked a sign into the street, ignored instructions from Grant to get out of the road and continued making gestures and dancing around. Al-Hashemi also charged the trooper’s vehicle and kicked it.
Trooper Injured in Trooper-Involved Shootinghttps://t.co/YCsaOZFIek #AZDPSNews pic.twitter.com/KDJeLnvYHZ
— Dept. Public Safety (@Arizona_DPS) December 20, 2019
Grant got out and attempted to subdue Al-Hashemi by using a Taser twice, to no effect, and the suspect rushed Grant and started brawling.
“It’s a very violent encounter, a vicious encounter,” Milstead said before showing the video.
Al-Hashemi punched, kicked and head-butted Grant and hit him in the head with his own Taser, Milstead said.
“Ultimately he [Grant] was unable to subdue the subject, and as he felt himself beginning to lose consciousness and realizing that one more blow to the head could mean the life of his citizen observer and of his own, he ended up deploying his duty weapon, and the subject succumbed to his injuries.”
Al-Hashemi is a citizen of Qatar in the country on a student visa, Milstead said.
It’s unclear how long he has been living in the U.S. He was a former student at Arizona State University, according to school officials. They didn’t provide other details.
Milstead said Al-Hashemi had multiple run-ins with Tempe police recently and was accused of trespassing at an Islamic community center.
Grant was in pain but recovering from his injuries at home, Milstead said.
Milstead called Grant’s effort “an exemplary piece of police work” and lauded the trooper for doing what he could to protect the woman who was riding along.
“He was in a fight for his life, and he did an incredible job,” Milstead said.
Westbound Loop 202 and the off-ramps in the area were closed for several hours Friday morning while the scene was under investigation.
According to statistics compiled by KTAR News 92.3 FM, there have been 38 officer-involved shootings in the Valley in 2019.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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