
After a road rage incident escalated into gunfire on a busy Arizona freeway, law enforcement officers were compelled to shut down a stretch of State Route 87 to apprehend those responsible. The event began on Thursday as a hit-and-run on the Loop 202 near Scottsdale Road, and the confrontation moved northward to where shots were fired, Fox 10 Phoenix reported. Remarkably, no injuries were reported in this dangerous exchange of gunfire.
REMINDER: SR 87 NB is still closed at Gilbert Road in Mesa. There's no estimated reopening time. For traffic and road information, check AZ511:
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According to AZFamily, the situation intensified when the victim of an the hit-and-run pursued the suspect's vehicle along State Route 87, also known as the Beeline Highway. The chase came to a momentary halt when the suspects, after firing at the other car, abandoned their vehicle a mile south of Shea boulevard and fled on foot into the surrounding desert terrain. State Route 87's closure impacted the northbound lanes from Gilbert Road to Shea Boulevard before it reopened around 5 p.m.
Law enforcement launched a search for the suspects, and through these tireless efforts, one suspect was taken into custody soon after. However, the hunt continued for an additional one or two individuals believed to be involved in the incident. "The suspect vehicle took off eventually stopping a mile south of Shea boulevard on State Route 87 where the occupants fled on foot into the desert," the Arizona Department of Public Safety informed Fox 10 Phoenix.
One individual was taken into custody shortly after the incident. Hours later, troopers and other law enforcement officers remained in the area, searching for one or two additional suspects, as per AZFamily. No further information, including descriptions of the suspects, was immediately available. Stay tuned for updates.