An Arizona man is now in custody after allegedly shooting at a Yuma County sheriff's helicopter. This incident occurred last Friday as deputies were performing routine aerial patrols. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, Mubarak Prince, 51, of Dateland, is accused of three counts of attempted first-degree murder following the attack on the helicopter.
The deputies, who were on board, reportedly heard an "impact to the aircraft and noticed debris inside the cabin due to damage," as stated in a release from the Yuma County Sheriff's Office. It was then confirmed that the debris was caused by a projectile puncture from a firearm. They safely managed to land the helicopter and no injuries were reported. FOX 10 Phoenix reported that authorities were able to quickly identify Prince as the suspect.
Subsequent investigation led to the serving of a search warrant at Prince's residence where he was arrested. The sheriff's office continues to delve deeper into the motive behind the incident, which remains unclear. 12 News echoes reports of the incident, noting that one deputy had initially noticed an individual pointing at the aircraft prior to the impact.
While the investigation is ongoing, the Yuma County Sheriff's Office asks anyone with information to contact them directly, or call 78-CRIME to remain anonymous, as per FOX 10 Phoenix. The motive for the alleged shooting still remains to be unascertained, as officials continue to reach out to the community for assistance.
