DPS trooper injured following Phoenix shooting, 2 suspects arrested
PHOENIX - Two suspects have been identified and arrested after an Arizona trooper was shot on Thursday, May 25.
The incident, according to Phoenix Police, happened in an area near Loop 101 and 19th Avenue. Phoenix Police officers were called to the scene at around 12:40 p.m. to back up a DPS trooper.
"Details on the call indicated that the DPS Trooper was involved in a shooting and had suffered at least one gunshot wound," read a portion of police's statement.
DPS officials said the trooper was taken to the hospital and is stable. On May 26, DPS officials said the trooper was shot several times, but is in good spirits. The trooper is also expected to fully recover from the injuries sustained.
The suspect, identified by police as 34-year-old Howard Lamar Johnson, was later tracked to an apartment complex in the area of 67th Avenue and Olive.
"After a short barricade, the man was taken into custody. The man was transported to a local hospital to be treated for injuries he suffered in the original incident with the DPS Trooper," read a portion of the police statement.
Johnson was arrested and booked on multiple charges, including aggravated assault.
Another woman, 27-year-old Sonia Hernandez was also arrested for allegedly helping Johnson after the shooting happened.
Details revealed from court documents
Court documents obtained on May 30 tell more about what investigators believe led up to this incident.
A DPS trooper was searching for a hit-and-run suspect, now believed to be Johnson, who witnesses say took off from 23rd Avenue and Loop 101.
After running the license plate and the vehicle coming up as stolen, the trooper began circling the area.
Court documents reveal the trooper spotted Johnson at a nearby bus stop. Johnson pulled away from the trooper and then ran into traffic.
The trooper deployed his stun gun, but it didn't stop Johnson and that's when DPS says Johnson shot the trooper at 19th Avenue.
The documents say, prior to shooting at the trooper, Johnson called Hernandez to pick him up. When she pulled up, Johnson got into the car, and they allegedly took off with Hernandez's two kids in the back seat.
Glendale police tracked the so-called getaway car to a townhouse on 71st Avenue. That's where a witness told police she let Hernandez's child go inside and clean blood off of himself.
Hernandez was seen disposing of a bag of bloody bandages in a public dumpster, documents allege.
Police say Hernandez was later spotted cleaning the blood from inside the vehicle. That's when she was arrested by Phoenix Police.
Prior to her arrest, detectives say they saw Johnson leave with another man who took him to 67th Avenue. This is where police say he started knocking on doors.
In an interview with police, the person who lives at the apartment said she did not know Johnson when he entered her apartment.
After a barricade at the apartment, Johnson surrendered and was taken into custody.
He's accused of four counts of aggravated assault and a count of misconduct.
Guard who witnessed trooper shooting speaks
As authorities continue to investigate a shooting that left an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper injured, officials with the agency announced on May 26 that the trooper, who was shot several times, is expected to fully recover. FOX 10's Irene Snyder spoke with a security guard who said he was on the job when the shooting happened, and has more.
Howard Lamar Johnson, Sonia Hernandez
Witnesses describe scene
As the investigation continues, we spoke with a witness who saw the incident unfold.
According to the woman, she was driving home from Chandler when she saw an officer chasing a man down the sidewalk. She said he ran in front of traffic, and eventually, the two ended up in the gravel.
That's when she saw guns drawn, and later heard several pops. The man being chased later got up, hopped into a white car that was driving by, and then took off.
"I'm calming down now. It hit me immediately. I didn't know if there were enough other witnesses, but either way, I pulled off. I'm shaking," said Jennifer Isch.
Another witness said he was inside an office building when it all unfolded, and that gunfire hit his building, and broke through a window.
"I heard the pop of the glass, and that was it," said Michael Gonzalez. "And then right after that, my security guard told me there was a bunch of police here, and they were taking a gentleman away."
(Earlier Report) Trooper hurt in Phoenix 'critical incident'
Authorities in the Phoenix area are investigating an incident that Phoenix Police described during the early afternoon hours of May 25 as an 'active critical incident.' While witnesses reported shots being fired during the incident, police officials have yet to confirm any details on what happened. We have learned that a law enforcement officer was injured in the incident, and was taken to the hospital. FOX 10's Lindsey Ragas, Irene Snyder and Brian Webb report, in team coverage.
Where the incident happened: