(This file has been updated throughout with new details.) A man ambushed a police officer who responded to a call at a Phoenix home early Friday, shooting him several times, then rained more gunfire on other officers who tried to rescue a baby that was placed outside the door. In all, five officers were shot, including four who were wounded while trying to take the baby to safety, per the AP. Four more officers were injured by shrapnel or ricocheting bullets, said Phoenix Police Sgt. Andy Williams. “It sounds like I’d be pretty safe to say nine is going to be the highest number we’ve ever had injured in one day, in one incident,” Williams said. All were expected to survive, and the baby was unharmed.
The most seriously injured officer was the first to arrive at the home, around 2:15am, following a report of a woman shot. He was invited inside, Williams said. “As he approached the doorway, the suspect ambushed him with a gun and shot him several times," he said. "That officer was able to get back and get away to safety.” Video from the scene shows another man coming outside holding a baby and a satchel. The man put the satchel on the ground and then laid down the infant, wrapped in a blanket, between the satchel and the front door. He raised his hands to surrender while backing away from the house.
Other officers who responded approached the doorway, and the suspect fired more shots. The police returned fire, which then led the suspect to barricade himself. Eight of the officers were wounded by bullets or shrapnel in that exchange, Williams said. Police were able to get the baby to safety as a SWAT unit took over. The suspect remained barricaded for several hours and was later found dead inside the home. A woman at the home also was critically injured, police said in a statement. They didn’t specify how the suspect died. (More Phoenix stories.)