Murder suspect killed in shootout with police in north Phoenix
PHOENIX - A murder suspect is dead following an officer-involved shooting in a north Phoenix neighborhood on Thursday evening.
Phoenix Police say the incident began with a deadly shooting near 33rd and Northern Avenues just after 2 p.m. on May 16.
Investigators say two men got into a fight that resulted in one man being shot. The victim, 29-year-old Brandon Russell, was taken to a hospital where he later died.
The suspect in the shooting fled the area before officers arrived.
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Police tracked the suspect to an apartment near 25th Avenue and Cactus Road. When officers tried to arrest the suspect, he allegedly pulled out a gun and opened fire.
"The man produced a handgun began to fire it in the direction of the officer, striking his police vehicle multiple times," Sgt. Robert Scherer said. "The officer got out of his vehicle and fired back at the man striking him. The man ran for a short distance before falling to the ground."
The suspect was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was not identified.
No officers were hurt.
"This is our sixth where Phoenix Police officers have been fired upon by the individual also, which I think I know eight comparatively to last year," Sgt. Scherer said. "We're below numbers right now. But I think the number that kind of speaks to to what our officers are dealing with, you know, day in and day out is, is we're being fired upon in the vast majority of these incidents."
