Shots fired near vigil of MCSO deputy were from unrelated incident
Oct 12, 2021, 3:00 PM
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Substation (Google Maps screenshot)
(Google Maps screenshot)
PHOENIX — Reports of shots fired near the vigil for a fallen Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deputy were from an unrelated incident, Avondale police said Tuesday.
Officers responded just after 7:15 p.m. to a Sam’s Club parking behind the MCSO substation at Van Buren Street and Dysart Road for a lawful transaction of goods for money that went bad, authorities said, with the suspect reportedly firing rounds in the air before leaving.
The shots were heard at the vigil taking place for Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputy Juan Ruiz, with the victim fleeing to the substation following the incident.
Officers were unable to locate the suspect after canvassing the area and Avondale police are asking anyone from the public to come forward with possible leads by calling (623) 333-7001.
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No injuries were reported from the incident.
Ruiz died Monday after an uncuffed suspect beat him unconscious at the substation on Saturday.
He had taken the suspect, Clinton Robert Hurley, 30, to a cell and removed the handcuffs. Ruiz was found bleeding and knocked out in the cell with Hurley using Ruiz’s patrol unit to escape.
