PRESCOTT, Ariz. — A husband and wife are dead following a pair of shootings in Yavapai County. Deputies say the incidents started with a domestic violence situation and ended when a reserve deputy killed shot and killed the husband.
>> Live, local, breaking. Download the 12News app
"Multiple callers hear yelling and screaming and what appears to be two gunshots." They are the words of a Yavapai County dispatcher Tuesday morning as callers reported hearing several gunshots ring out at two homes in the Wildwood Estates community.
At around 9 a.m., the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) says a woman went running to her neighbor's house across the street after she was shot by her estranged husband. When she made it to the neighbor's house, people living nearby said the husband followed her and was shot and killed by the neighbor.
"We're out with a resident who is a former reserve deputy. He has two at gunpoint with gunshot wounds. I’m going to take him into custody," a deputy said to the dispatcher over police radio.
YCSO says the neighbor who shot the husband is a retired, now reserve deputy for the sheriff's office. In a statement after the shooting, they say he was "forced to intervene by discharging his weapon to stop further threats from the husband."
The husband and wife, who have not been identified, both did not survive their injuries from the shootings.
12News spoke with several neighbors, some of whom are friends with the couple. None of them wished to speak on camera. However, one called the reserve deputy a "very well respected member of our community."
All of them had no doubts that he was doing everything he could to help the wife as she was running for her life.
Yavapai County Sheriff, David Rhodes, issued a statement on the pair of shootings:
"This incident is a stark reminder of the dedication from our men and women in uniform on and off duty. I would like to thank all of our law enforcement for putting themselves in harm’s way to protect this community we all love.” - Sheriff David Rhodes
YCSO says the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) will be handling the investigation into the shootings because they involve a member of their office.
It's unclear if the reserve deputy is in police custody or not. He has also not been identified.
DPS says they "never comment on an ongoing criminal investigation."
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.