FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. 鈥� An Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter crashed in an accident that killed the pilot and a trooper/paramedic on board, after they responded to a gun battle between police and a suspect who fired on officers from multiple rooftops over almost two hours, authorities said Thursday.
The confrontation began when law enforcement officers responded to a domestic violence call around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Flagstaff Police Chief Sean Connolly said during a news conference.
A man armed with a semiautomatic long rifle opened fire on the officers and victim and an almost two-hour shootout ensued, with the unidentified suspect 鈥渉opping from roof to roof鈥� in the neighborhood while shooting at officers, Connolly said.
The man was brought into custody at about 10:20 p.m., around the time the helicopter accident occurred, Connolly said. He did not provide information on how the helicopter crashed but said it had been providing officers on the ground with an aerial view of what was happening.
The suspect suffered nonfatal gunshot wounds and was being treated at Flagstaff Medical Center, officials said.
No one else was injured. The names of the pilot and trooper, who was also a paramedic, were not released.
鈥淥ur city and our state have experienced a significant loss. We are part of this community,鈥� Connolly said. 鈥淭his neighborhood was under siege last night.鈥�
A 鈥榞iant boom鈥�
Amanda Brewer of Flagstaff said she and her husband heard close to 100 gunshots fired in their neighborhood beginning at around 8:40 p.m. and continuing after the helicopter arrived at about 10 p.m. She heard three rounds of shots fired as the helicopter flew around, including three or four shots as the helicopter was over their house.
Then she could no longer hear the helicopter, there was a 鈥済iant boom鈥�, and their house shook. 鈥淚t was so powerful and so loud,鈥� she said.
The Bell 407 helicopter that was built in 2004 crashed on Flagstaff鈥檚 west side, a few miles from Route 66 in a less densely populated area to the north of Brewer鈥檚 neighborhood. There was a fire afterward, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Earlier in the night, an emergency alert went out to mobile phones warning of an active shooter and urging people to stay clear of the area. People gathered outside of a gas station watching as dozens of police vehicles lined the streets.
Jasmin Parra, 32, was at home nearby with her family when police told them to stay inside, lock their doors and windows and not answer if anybody knocked, she said.
As the family kept low inside the house, the sound of gunfire got closer and they could hear police trying to talk the gunman down from a rooftop, Parra said.
There were several gunshots just before the house shook with what she thought was the helicopter crash, Parra said.
鈥淛ust all these emotions just flooded us because we didn鈥檛 know鈥� what was happening, she said
Trained for high-risk
The FAA said it would assist the National Transportation Safety Board in the crash investigation. An email seeking information was sent to the NTSB early Thursday.
The state Department of Public Safety鈥檚 Air Rescue Unit is trained for various high-risk situations, including mountain and water rescues.
Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett and members of Arizona鈥檚 congressional delegation expressed sympathy for the families of the pilot and trooper.
鈥淭ragic news. Please pray for their families and everyone involved,鈥� said U.S. Rep. Eli Crane, whose district includes Flagstaff.
鈥淗eartbreaking news out of northern Arizona this morning, and a grim reminder of the dangers law enforcement face,鈥� U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton wrote. 鈥淧raying for these officers鈥� loved ones and the entire Arizona Department of Public Safety.鈥�
This article, originally published at 10:04 a.m. ET, has been updated with additional information about the crash.
