Nine Phoenix police officers were shot and wounded at a home early Friday morning, including four injured by a barrage of gunfire after being lured into a trap while rescuing a baby during a five-hour armed standoff.
Dramatic video from the scene shows a man emerging from the front door of the home with an infant in his arms. He is seen placing the baby on the ground, raising his hands in the air, and walking backward toward the police, who handcuff him and take him into custody.
But when additional officers rush toward the home to carry the baby to safety, more gunfire erupts from inside the residence, striking the cops, who are sent fleeing for their lives.
Police spokesman Sgt. Andrew Smith said during a press conference on Friday that there is nothing to suggest at this time the man who carried out the baby was part of the ambush.
Police said the gunman was later found dead inside the home, but it's unknown whether his death was self-inflicted, or not. His name is not being released pending the notification of next of kin.
A woman at the home where police had gone in response to reported gunfire also was critically injured. Andrews said the female victim and the gunman were previously in a romantic relationship, and the baby is their child.
According to law enforcement, the incident began unfolding at around 2:15 a.m. local time, when police responded to the home at 54th Avenue and Elwood Street in Phoenix for a report of a shooting.
As an officer approached the residence to investigate, he was invited inside and was then 'ambushed' by a gunman, who opened fire, striking the cop multiple times, Andrews said.
The officer was able to get to safety. He was seriously injured but was expected to recover.
'This is just one more example of the dangers that officers face every day keeping us and our community safe,' Police Chief Jeri Williams said.
'If I seem upset, I am. This is senseless. It does not need to happen and it continues to happen over and over again.'
Backup officers responded to the scene, at which time the baby was placed outside the house and the unnamed man who was carrying the infant was detained.
When the gunman opened fire on the police, officers returned fire, Andrews said. Four officers were shot and four others were hit by bullet fragments.
A SWAT team was summoned and made attempts to negotiate with the barricaded shooter.
Dramatic video from the scene shows a man emerging from the front door of the home with an infant in his arms. He is seen placing the baby on the ground, raising his hands in the air, and walking backward toward the police, who handcuff him and take him into custody.
But when additional officers rush toward the home to carry the baby to safety, more gunfire erupts from inside the residence, striking the cops, who are sent fleeing for their lives.
Police spokesman Sgt. Andrew Smith said during a press conference on Friday that there is nothing to suggest at this time the man who carried out the baby was part of the ambush.
Police said the gunman was later found dead inside the home, but it's unknown whether his death was self-inflicted, or not. His name is not being released pending the notification of next of kin.
A woman at the home where police had gone in response to reported gunfire also was critically injured. Andrews said the female victim and the gunman were previously in a romantic relationship, and the baby is their child.
According to law enforcement, the incident began unfolding at around 2:15 a.m. local time, when police responded to the home at 54th Avenue and Elwood Street in Phoenix for a report of a shooting.
As an officer approached the residence to investigate, he was invited inside and was then 'ambushed' by a gunman, who opened fire, striking the cop multiple times, Andrews said.
The officer was able to get to safety. He was seriously injured but was expected to recover.
'This is just one more example of the dangers that officers face every day keeping us and our community safe,' Police Chief Jeri Williams said.
'If I seem upset, I am. This is senseless. It does not need to happen and it continues to happen over and over again.'
Backup officers responded to the scene, at which time the baby was placed outside the house and the unnamed man who was carrying the infant was detained.
When the gunman opened fire on the police, officers returned fire, Andrews said. Four officers were shot and four others were hit by bullet fragments.
A SWAT team was summoned and made attempts to negotiate with the barricaded shooter.
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