Phoenix Police: 4 Homeland Security agents taken to the hospital following shooting in Ahwatukee

PHOENIX (AP/FOX 10) - Phoenix Police officials say four Homeland Security Investigation agents were taken to the hospital for medical evaluation, following a shooting in the Ahwatukee area of Phoenix Thursday morning.

In a statement, police say the incident happened at around 9:48 a.m., when HSI agents conducting a human smuggling investigation tried to stop a car to make an arrest on the 11000 block of S. 48th Street. Gunfire was later exchanged.

Video from TV stations at the scene show several police patrol cars and emergency vehicles surrounding a pickup truck that crashed into a brick wall. An SUV and a pickup truck also appear to have crashed into each other, and one of the vehicles seems to have had its windows shot out.

Phoenix Police officials say there were five people in the suspect vehicle. One of them, identified as 29-year-old Theresa Medina-Thomas, was pronounced dead at the scene. The rest were taken to the hospital, and their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Phoenix Police officials say their officers were not involved in the human smuggling investigation or the shooting.

HSI is the investigative arm of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. It investigates a variety of cross-border criminal activity including financial crimes, immigration fraud and weapons and drug trafficking.

As of Thursday night, an investigation at the scene is ongoing. Meanwhile, residents talked about what they heard, as the incident unfolded.

"All of a sudden, I heard this 'dah dah dah dah dah', you know, gunshots," said Jennier Foster. "And then, it went silent, and then, it was again and again and again, so it ended up being, like, it was about 70 gunshots."

"It sounded like you were in a warzone, like in Syria or something, or Iraq," said Nick Dalton.

Foster said her neighborhood is filled with senior citizens who came to the area for peace and safety, and they are now recovering from a traumatizing day.

"Just very scary, 'cause this is actually one of the safest neighborhoods I've ever lived in," said Foster.

The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report.