Detectives investigate shooting after Quartzsite officer was shot

The Quartzsite Police Department received calls of two houses on fire on Tuesday night at approximately 10:41 p.m.

Upon arrival officers learned the fires were intentionally set and the victims from one of the homes were able to identify the suspect who started the fires.

The victims provided a description of the vehicle in which the suspect fled and just after 11:30 p.m. the Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers were called by the QPD to assist in the search of the suspect.

At around 12:39 p.m. officers and two AZDPS troopers located the suspect.

Shortly after the suspect fired at the officers and troopers striking a QPD officer as a result. One of the troopers returned fire while the other trooper dragged the QPD officer to cover and applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.

The suspect then fled north from the area of the shooting to another area where he had previously set up a strategic advantage of cover, utilizing a block wall and his vehicle for protection. Additionally, he set up multiple weapons including rifles, a handgun and ammunition. Troopers attempted to negotiate with the suspect but were unsuccessful.

Troopers then engaged the suspect, who was shot. On-scene trooper/paramedics attended to the suspect who ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

The injured QPD Officer was transported to Lake Havasu Regional Medical Center with serious injuries.

According to QPD’s Facebook page, the officer is doing okay.

AZDPS investigators are now leading the investigation.