At least one Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper was shot Thursday evening in central Phoenix in what authorities described as an unfolding situation at a trailer park just east of Interstate 17 near 24th Avenue and Indian School Road. One suspect was also reportedly shot. Officials released few immediate details about the trooper's condition, and investigators stayed on scene for hours as nearby ramps and streets were shut down for the emergency response.
Scene and initial reports
According to Arizona's Family, the shooting happened at a trailer park near 24th Avenue and Indian School Road just before 8 p.m. The station's news helicopter circled overhead while officers worked to lock down the area. Traffic cameras showed police blocking the southbound Indian School exit ramp off Interstate 17, and sources at the scene described a "very chaotic" situation. Arizona's Family reported that one suspect had also been shot, although law enforcement agencies had not yet released formal details.
DPS under strain after Flagstaff crash
The Arizona Department of Public Safety news page lists an update and a press conference scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6, as the agency continues to investigate a deadly DPS helicopter crash in Flagstaff. The crash, which the Associated Press reported, killed a pilot and a trooper-paramedic while the aircraft was assisting a Flagstaff police response and has drawn additional investigative resources. As of publication, neither DPS nor Phoenix police had posted a full statement about the central Phoenix shooting on their official channels.
What this means locally
According to Arizona's Family, this was the fifth officer-involved shooting in the Phoenix area so far in 2026 and the 13th in the state, and it came just hours after police said they had shot a homicide suspect in west Phoenix. The rapid run of high-profile uses of force has renewed calls from community advocates for clearer timelines on body-camera releases and investigative updates. We have reached out to Arizona DPS and Phoenix police for comment and will update this story as officials provide more information.
