Community Chat

[Carriestp]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/12/us/arizona-good-samaritan-kills-man-beating-trooper/index.html

CNN, January 13, 2017

(CNN) An Arizona trooper who had been shot and was being beaten by a man with a pistol was saved Thursday by a motorist who killed his attacker, authorities said.

The man who came upon the scene warned the suspect to stop striking the officer, but the assailant continued, said Capt. Damon Cecil, a spokesman for the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The good Samaritan got a gun from his car and shot the suspect, who died at the scene.

The trooper, a 27-year veteran, was shot in the chest and shoulder. He is in serious and stable condition, Cecil said.

Col. Frank Milstead, director of the Public Safety Department, said he would like to thank the man who stepped in. "I don't know that my trooper would be alive today without his assistance," he said, according to CNN affiliate KNXV-TV in Phoenix.

Public safety spokesman Bart Graves said the incident began with the trooper responding to report of shots fired from the median of an unlit, rural section of Interstate 10 near Tonopah. The officer came across a vehicle that had rolled over and got out to investigate. While the trooper was setting flares, the suspect shot him.

It was not clear where the suspect was when the officer pulled up.

Milstead said at some point the suspect started beating the trooper, who was unable to use his right arm to defend himself. That's when the motorist pulled up and opened fire on the suspect.

"It's fairly rare" that citizens who come to the aid of law enforcement officers use deadly force, Cecil said.

Another motorist who stopped used the trooper's portable radio to call in the shooting.

The conversation between that driver and the dispatcher was very businesslike, Cecil said.

"Hello. Officer down, officer down outside Tonopah. Come in, please," the man says, according to audio archived on Broadcastify, which streams radio communications between emergency responders. "He's in real bad shape. Please send air support, helicopter, please."

He tells the dispatcher there are two other people who are down in an "unknown condition."

Cecil praised the motorists who stopped to help, saying, "They were calm, determined."

A woman who was ejected from the vehicle died at a hospital, authorities said.

Authorities didn't release the names of the people involved in the incident, which occurred after 4 a.m. near mile marker 89, west of Tonopah. That city is about 50 miles west of Phoenix.

[hckynut]

@Carriestp

I mentioned this in another thread. "Another stupid shooting", part of thread title. Thanks for putting in all the details. From one who carries, thank goodness this man did also.

hckynut(john)

[SahmIam]

I heard and then read about his earlier. Kudos to the motorist who assisted the trooper.

[spikeysmom]

As the mother of a State Trooper I thank the Lord for this hero's help.  Spikey's mom (Spikey iis the pooch not the Son)

[Carriestp]

I just felt this exemplifies two things...that everyday folks are willing to put their own lives in danger to save another AND that law enforcement officers truly never know what to expect when on duty.

This had to be a frightening situation for the officer and those who stopped to help.

[pegsue]

I saw this story.  So tired of hearing police officers getting shot at, attacked, etc. This is just out of control and needs to stop.  As one who carries I was happy that someone else who carries stopped to help. 

[BabyYoda]

Glad that man stopped and also had a gun on him!! He saved that troopers life!

[Love my grandkids]

That wonderful man deserves a medal. No, he deserves a ton of medals. I love it when a law abiding citizen comes to the rescue/defense of a victim.

I'm sick of law enforcement officers being ambushed and/or attacked.

[123SuzyQ123]

I recognized the area as soon as I saw the photo!

I go on this road when I go visit my son and grandson in Phoenix!  If I had come upon something happening like that, all I could have done would be dial 9-1-1.  I don't own a gun and I know I would have been  too scared to get out of my car to try to help, so thank goodness for that good Samaritan!!  I am soooo glad there are other people in this world who are braver than me!