Sandy MaloneChandler, AZ – A suspect was taken into custody on Monday afternoon after three police officers were shot and an hours-long standoff ended with a house in flames.
Chandler police said the incident began just after 1 a.m. on April 27 when officers saw a “suspicious” person as they were patrolling near Arizona Avenue and Chandler Boulevard, according to KPHO reported.
When officers approached the suspect, he fled, but then turned back and opened fire on the police.
One officer was hit, and another bullet struck a nearby house, but then the suspect escaped, KPHO reported.
Police did not return fire, KTAR reported.
The wounded officer was transported to the hospital, treated, and released.
But then, just after 7 a.m., two more police officers were shot about 100 yards from where the first shooting took place, KPHO reported.
Both officers were shot in their ballistic vests, and one officer was awake and talking when he was transported to the hospital from the scene, KTAR reported.
After the officers were shot, police surrounded a home where they believed the suspect to be, and the suspect remained barricaded inside for more than five hours, KSAZ reported.
Mesa police arrived at the scene to assist Chandler police.
KPHO reported that the suspect eventually set the home where he was barricaded on fire and managed to escape.
He went to a nearby apartment complex and holed up in a unit, but police quickly surrounded him there, too, KPNX reported.
The suspect was taken into custody at about 12:30 p.m. local time, KTAR reported.
Police kept the area locked down as firefighters fought the blaze in the nearby house.
Police have not yet released the names of any of the wounded officers, nor have they released the name of the suspect.
All three officers are expected to make a full recovery, KTAR reported.
This is a developing story and we will keep you updated. For all of our updates, follow us on Facebook and go to your news feed preferences under your settings, then select that you want to see more of Blue Lives Matter posts in your news feed. Otherwise, Facebook may not show you updates.