A Tempe police officer is in the hospital after being shot in the leg during a police shooting near a busy intersection Friday evening.
According to Jessica Ells with the Tempe Police Department, a 32-year-old suspect who had a warrant out for his arrest for drug sales was spotted at the Circle K on Rural Road, just south of Baseline Road.
He was in a car and when he saw the police cars, he drove across Rural Road and onto Lamplighter Lane. Officers chased after him in their patrol cars.
The suspect then got out of his car and ran east.
When officers got out of their cars, the suspect started firing his gun at them, hitting an officer on the leg, Ells said.
Officers returned fire and killed the man.
The injured officer was taken to the hospital with injuries that weren’t life-threatening.
“We are grateful that our officer is doing well and and that his injuries are not more severe,” Ells said.
The suspect’s name was not released.
Ells said police didn’t have any information that the suspect would be armed.
An investigation is ongoing.
A heavy police presence could be seen near the Circle K gas station at the intersection of Lamplighter Lane and Rural Road.(Arizona's Family)
This is the 53rd officer-involved shooting in the Valley and the 89th in the state for 2024, according to Arizona’s Family records.
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