Phoenix police helicopters have been involved in multiple, separate incidents involving firearms over the last 10 days, officials said.
Since March 16, Phoenix police helicopters have been shot at on two occasions. In a third incident, a firearm was pointed at a helicopter.
The most recent incident occurred early Sunday, when a helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in a Walmart parking lot near Thomas Road and 38th Street.
On March 22, just before 2 a.m., officers responded to reports of gunshots in the area. Officers in a helicopter observed a man on the back patio of an apartment complex who raised his gun and fired several shots at the helicopter, according to a statement from Phoenix police.
Officers observed the suspect raise a gun and fire at the helicopter a second time. At this point, an officer-involved shooting occurred, according to the statement.
Police said the suspected gunman was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
“When the helicopter came overhead, police said that the man fired shots at the helicopter, forcing it to make an emergency landing,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said.
Mitchell said a similar incident occurred a day earlier.
On Saturday, Phoenix police responded to reports of a man with a gun. The man was arrested after he was observed pointing, but not shooting, a gun at a helicopter, Mitchell said.
On March 16, two brothers were arrested for firing a rifle at a helicopter.
Both men were indicted on multiple felony charges by a grand jury, including aggravated assault on an officer and weapons charges, Mitchell said.
“Not only were these incredibly dangerous acts for the officers in the helicopter, but as we all know, bullets fired into the air can come down anywhere and hurt or kill an innocent person,” Mitchell said.
None of the helicopters were damaged in these incidents.
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