By Suzie Ziegler
PHOENIX — A 17-year-old gunman was arrested after allegedly ambushing a state trooper Thursday morning in Phoenix. No one was injured in the shooting, officials said.
According to Arizona Republic, the trooper was sitting alone in an unmarked vehicle when “completely, unexpectedly he was ambushed,” said Department of Public Safety Director Heston Silbert at a press conference. Although the vehicle was unmarked, the detective was wearing a vest that read, “police,” officials said.
A driver pulled up alongside the trooper’s vehicle, and honked its horn, said DPS. That’s when a passenger got out of the car and fired at least two shots at the trooper, Silbert told Arizona Republic. The trooper managed to exit his vehicle as a second trooper arrived. Both troopers returned fire and the driver fled, leaving the alleged gunman at the scene.
The teen, whose identity is not being released because of his age, was taken into custody, Arizona Republic reported. Law enforcement is still looking for the suspect vehicle, which DPS described as a silver 2013 Infiniti G37 with custom chrome wheels and a temporary plate.
Thursday’s shooting was the second on an officer in Phoenix this week. It comes after a man was arrested Tuesday morning on suspicion of shooting a federal security officer outside a U.S. courthouse.
When asked if the agency would start patrolling in pairs as an added safety measure, Silbert said no, according to Arizona Republic.
“The Department of Public Safety, for lack of a better word, doesn’t have the luxury of two-man units,” he said.
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