Federal agents say they were conducting a human smuggling investigation when a shootout broke out in the middle of Ahwatukee on Thursday morning.
Homeland Security Investigations officials say special agents shot two suspects Thursday while executing a federal felony arrest warrant connected to human smuggling in Ahwatukee. Agents were trying to pull over the suspects' vehicle on 48th Street between Elliot and Warner roads.
Neighbors took cover in their homes after hearing a loud crash and a series of rapid fire gunshots around 10 a.m.
Sonja Redmon was getting ready to run some errands with her dog, Griff, when she heard a loud crash and then lots of bangs and explosions.
“I was thinking that maybe the whole neighborhood could blow up.”
Redmon says she had never seen anything like it in the southeast Phoenix neighborhood.
“This is a little retirement community — just peaceful and quiet. It’s a great place to live," she said.
Phoenix police say one person in the suspect vehicle, an adult female, was pronounced dead at the scene and four others were taken to a hospital. Four federal agents were also hospitalized.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story have been modified to clarify the location of the shooting.
