A suspect is dead and three troopers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety were hurt after a shooting involving troopers and Mesa police officers. Interstate 17 remained closed for about 18 hours in Phoenix while police investigated.
The Phoenix Police Department identified the suspect as 27-year-old Arnaldo Caraveo on Tuesday.
According to Phoenix police, three DPS troopers and five Mesa police officers were involved in the shooting, which happened around 5 p.m. Monday.
Shortly after 4 p.m., Mesa police responded to a call of a suspicious man who was possibly armed near Mesa Drive and First Avenue.
When officers responded, Caraveo left the area in a white pickup truck, police said.
Police continued to observe Caraveo, who entered the freeway around State Route 43 and Interstate 10 and headed westbound toward Phoenix.
A pursuit was declared. Police said marked units eventually backed off from the chase while Mesa's air unit followed the suspect's truck. DPS was advised and lent units to assist in the pursuit.
Caraveo then went onto northbound I-17. As he approached 7th Street, a marked DPS unit initiated a PIT maneuver, which spun the suspect's truck around to face the pursuing officers in marked and unmarked vehicles.
Police said Caraveo then exchanged gunfire with five Mesa officers and three DPS troopers.
The suspect was declared deceased at the scene.
Police said three DPS troopers sustained non-life-threatening injuries from glass breaking during the shooting. Two of the troopers were taken to the hospital. They have since been treated and released.
None of the Mesa police officers involved were hurt.
Phoenix police will take the lead on the criminal investigation while Mesa police and DPS will also be conducting internal investigations.
Traffic was backed up Tuesday morning on I-17 as the northbound side remained closed at 1-10 Split and the southbound side at 7th Avenue. Just after 11 a.m. Tuesday, all were lanes reopened.
