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Suspect arrested after two Phoenix officers injured in Sunday shooting

Posted at 5:32 AM, Mar 13, 2022
and last updated 2022-03-14 16:44:52-04

PHOENIX — Phoenix police have arrested a suspect after two Phoenix officers were injured during a shooting Sunday.

At about 1 a.m., two officers were riding in their vehicle when someone opened fire on them near 27th and Maryland avenues.

On Monday, Phoenix police officials identified the suspected shooter as 28-year-old Devonte Thornton.

Devonte Thornton

Officials say it started when the officers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. The vehicle did not stop and drove away until the officers lost sight of it.

A short time later, the officers spotted the same vehicle and attempted to stop it again. When the officers were in the area of 27th and Maryland avenues, someone standing along the road started shooting at the officers.

The passenger officer was struck in the wrist and was taken to a hospital.

On Monday afternoon, authorities confirmed that the officer who was hospitalized from this incident has since been released.

The driving officer was injured by flying glass.

The driver of the suspected vehicle jumped out and ran away from the scene, police said.

Additional officers arrived at the scene and were able to take the driver into custody for questioning.

Police later identified him as 18-year-old Javon Beasley.

Javon Beasley

Beasley was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on a felony flight.

RELATED: All 9 officers released from hospital after Phoenix standoff

“This is the 7th Phoenix officer shot and 12th injured in the line of duty in the past three months. This kind of violence within our community and toward police officers cannot become the new normal,” said Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams.

Phoenix police along with other law enforcement entities searched for the shooter who Chief Jeri Williams says was hiding in the dark while "trying to pick our officers off."

Everyone is asked to avoid Glendale Avenue to Bethany Home Road, I-17 to 27th Avenue as an investigation is underway.

The shooting comes a day after a Phoenix officer was injured near 75th Avenue and Buckeye Road when a man attempted to steal a police SUV. The man was shot by the officer and later died.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego reacted to Sunday's shooting.

Thornton has been booked into the Maricopa County Jail and is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder.

An investigation remains ongoing.