Nine cops injured while rescuing baby during shootout

Five police officers and a woman have been hospitalized after sustaining gunshot wounds in Phoenix, Arizona in the early hours of Friday morning. The suspect died at the scene.

Cops were called to a reported shooting around 2am local time at a home near the area of 54th Avenue and Elwood Street, Phoenix police said. The first officer on the scene was shot multiple times by a person inside the home.

In the ensuing standoff, a baby was placed on a step outside the home by someone within the property by a man who then surrendered to the police. Officers rushed to the infant’s rescue, but the gun-wielding assailant, who had barricaded himself inside the house, opened fire again, injuring a further four officers.

According to local reports, the baby was rescued and is unharmed.

Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams suggested that one officer was hurt more seriously than the others, but that all were recovering. Four additional officers were wounded by shrapnel, but were not taken to the hospital.

A woman, believed to be the shooter’s former girlfriend, was also critically injured during the ordeal and has been hospitalized. 

When police finally entered the property, they found the gunman dead inside. Williams did not say whether the suspect was shot dead by police or took his own life, but did mention that the cops returned fire during the incident.