Maricopa, Arizona — 17-year-old dies in gunfight Maricopa This was announced by city officials in the early morning of June 28.
A spokeswoman said police were called after neighbors called 911 after seeing three people trying to break into a car near the intersection of Honeycut Road and Hartman Road.
A neighbor said he followed the three suspects until he threatened to shoot them dead.
When police arrived, they reported seeing three men break into a black Hyundai parked on the side of the road.
Police approached the suspects, but the suspects fled the scene on foot. Two of them jumped over the backyard wall and escaped into the field. Another suspect fled nearby.
During the chase on foot, one of them reportedly opened fire on two responding police officers, one of whom fired back.
A police officer and a suspect were injured in the shooting. The police officer’s injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening. The 17-year-old suspect died while being transported to a nearby hospital.
The identity of the deceased boy has yet to be confirmed by authorities, according to Maricopa Police.
Authorities said two other suspects had been arrested. One of them, a 17-year-old, has been charged with armed robbery and criminal damage.
A third suspect, 20, was handed over to the Gila River Police Station because of the location of his arrest.
The injured police officer has been discharged from the hospital and is recuperating at home.
A total of four cars were broken into. Only Hunter Bank’s Hyundai was affected.
“I never had anyone break into my car and try to steal anything,” Banks told 12News. “It’s not the best feeling.”
Banks said he purchased the car in January. He became aware of the situation outside his home when a police officer knocked on his door.
“They almost smashed the side window, got in from behind, and ripped off the ignition to try to start it,” Banks said. “They pulled out the entire steering column and the ignition was on the ground.”
A Maricopa police spokesman said there had been a spate of car thefts in the city.
The shooting occurred in the Gila River Indian community, so the FBI takes over the investigation.
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