Suspects in shooting of Phoenix officer indicted on first-degree murder charges

PHOENIX — Two men accused of shooting a Phoenix police officer earlier this month have been indicted on three felony charges each, authorities said Thursday.

Aaron Luther Ware, 22, and Ahmani Deshawn Gordon, 23, face attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and discharge of a firearm at a structure resulting from the incident that took place on June 14 near 43rd Avenue and Baseline Road.

The men are accused of shooting the officer, a 19-year-veteran of the force, multiple times. The officer survived in part due to her bulletproof vest, authorities said.

The officer was following up on gun crimes when she was ambushed by the two men who allegedly parked behind the unmarked patrol car and exited the vehicle with guns drawn and masks over their faces.

Seeing the men, the officer put on her ballistic vest before drawing her gun. She was struck while exiting the vehicle and was unable to fire back.

The men returned to the vehicle and drove off while the officer called for help, authorities said.

The vehicle was found by police at a residence near 33rd Avenue and Baseline Road, where Ware and Gordon were taken into custody.

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