Officers shoot man accused of opening fire on Phoenix police helicopter
Man shot after firing at Phoenix police chopper
A Phoenix man is critically injured after police say he opened fire on a department helicopter. FOX 10's Megan Spector learns how this escalated into an officer-involved shooting.
PHOENIX - Officers shot a man who they say fired multiple shots at a police helicopter in East Phoenix overnight.
What we know:
Just before 2 a.m. on March 22, officers responded to a shots-fired call near 3800 East Thomas Road. Phoenix Police Air Unit also responded after multiple gunshots were heard in the area.
A neighbor said he clearly heard the shots come in two distinct waves.
"Probably about 1:15 or so sounded like some gunshots. I didn’t know if it was gunshots or fireworks," they said. "Then about another 5 minutes later or so, I heard the helicopter came out – and heard probably about another five to seven rounds go off."
The pilot of the chopper, and the observer, located the man on the back patio of an apartment, who raised a gun and fired several shots at the aircraft.
Man shoots at police helicopter before officers fire back
A gunman is in critical condition after police say he fired multiple shots at a Phoenix police helicopter, before officers returned fire. FOX 10's Megan Spector learns more about this incident, just days after two men fired a rifle at a police chopper.
Dig deeper:
Drones were deployed, and officers began evacuating apartments, when the man raised the gun again and fired at the helicopter a second time.
After officers fired back, the man was found in critical condition with a gunshot wound and a handgun nearby on the back patio. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Officials said no officers were injured.
Police told FOX 10 that the helicopter landed nearby to check for damage, but did not confirm if any was found.
"I decided to see what was going on and as I was looking down the street I stopped one officer and asked and I guess the helicopter landed at Walmart down the street because of being shot at to check it out," the neighbor said.
Big picture view:
This incident comes just days after two men, identified as 33-year-old Burton Smith and 28-year-old Duane Marcus Bryant, were arrested for firing a rifle at a Phoenix Police helicopter. That chopper was not hit, but they are both facing multiple felony charges.
2 arrested after shots fired at Phoenix Police helicopter
Two men were arrested for firing a rifle at a Phoenix Police helicopter early Monday morning near 36th and Van Buren Streets.
What we don't know:
The man's identity, or events leading up to him firing the gun at a police helicopter, were not made known.
What's next:
The incident is being investigated by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
The Source: Phoenix Police Department