Phoenix police Officer Peter Bennett shot, undergoes surgery, says police chief

PHOENIX - Phoenix police have confirmed the officer shot Sunday night was hit multiple times before he went down.

Officer Peter C. Bennett remains in the hospital where he had surgery Monday afternoon. Sgt. Trent Crump said Bennett's family said the surgery went as expected, but he has a long recovery in front of him.

The shooting took place around 8:30 p.m. Sunday near 21st Avenue and Georgia in an area that sees a lot of crime, Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia said in a news conference around 2 p.m. Monday.

Officer Bennett is in "tremendous spirits" and was talking clearly Monday, Garcia said.

He talked to his father on the phone to tell him that he will be just fine, Garcia said.

The suspect, identified as Brandon McCabe, 28, was riding a bicycle and reportedly shot at Bennett several times. Bennett was hit in the left cheek, right thigh, and right arm.

He was also struck three additional times in the chest, Garcia said.

The officer was patrolling the "high profile enforcement location" on his own and noticed "suspicious activity" from McCabe, Garcia said.

When Bennett approached him and told him to get off his bicycle, McCabe reportedly dropped his backpack and shot at Bennett.

Bennett then shot back firing 7-10 rounds at the suspect, Garcia said.

When McCabe was found about a block away, he had gunshot wounds to both his hands, Garcia said.

The suspect has been "very uncooperative," Garcia said.

McCabe was booked into jail and charged with attempting to kill a police officer. According to police, he has a lengthy criminal history including two crimes for which he was sentenced to prison.

Officer Bennett has two children and has been with the Phoenix Police Department for four-and-a-half years.