Phoenix Police Shooting: Officer, Father Of Three Dies Saving Partner During Shootout
A Phoenix police shooting has left one detective dead and another seriously wounded after the partners attempted to arrest an ex-convict and stepped into an ambush.
The officers were attempting to arrest 28-year-old William Thornton on Monday for an outstanding warrant. Thornton was wanted on violating his probation after having been released from prison on January 9, where he served time for a drug conviction and resisting arrest.
The Phoenix police shooting claimed the life of 43-year-old John Hobbs, a 21-year veteran of the department.
Police said that Hobbs and his partner were waiting undercover near a business that Thornton was known to frequent. When the suspect arrived at roughly 3:30 pm on Monday, Thornton saw the officers and tried to flee in his vehicle before getting into a three-car collision at a nearby intersection.
Thornton then attempted to flee the crash, but stopped to exchange gunfire with the detectives. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with people running for cover while the suspect fired wildly at the officers.
Though Hobbs was shot, he still managed to return fire while lying mortally wounded on the pavement, killing Thornton.
His partners, a 44-year-old nine-year veteran who was not identified, survived the Phoenix police shooting thanks to Hobbs’ heroism.
“The suspect immediately opened fire on our officers,” said Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia, noting the shooting highlights the dangers detectives encounter when tracking fugitives who don’t want to go back to prison. “They’ll do everything they can do to get away, including a reckless abandon for human life and that’s what we saw yesterday.”
John Hobbs leaves behind a wife and three children.
“I ask the people of Phoenix to keep the both families and officers in their prayers… this is a very difficult time for our department,” Garcia said.
The suspect in the Phoenix police shooting was also wanted in the attempted murder of a man who was shot in the chest last week.
[Image Via Fox News]
