Police responded to calls that Morris Jones, 36, a career criminal, had shot and killed his ex-girlfriend.
When they arrived, they found Jones inside. As police surrounded the Phoenix, Arizona, home, another man was seen walking outside with Jones and his ex-girlfriend’s baby and leaving it on the porch, before surrendering to police.
As officers approached the porch to rescue the infant, Jones opened fire. A total of nine officers were injured.
Police said there is nothing to suggest that the man who carried out the baby was part of the ambush – he may have been following instructions from Jones.
Cops later found Jones dead inside the home, from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams confirmed that four officers were currently in the hospital being treated for gunshot wounds, with one of the cops undergoing surgery.
Williams said she was ‘upset’ at the senseless violence in the community and said the video captured of the incident ‘still gives me chills.’
‘But as gunfire was raging out, our officers went in,’ she said, praising the heroic cops.
‘As a baby was left on the doorsteps, our officers went to rescue her.’
Mayor Kate Gallego added that the city was reeling from the incident but grateful that the officers could save the baby’s life.
‘I cannot recall an incident in city history where so many officers were injured. A baby is safe today because of our Phoenix police officers.’
According to law enforcement, the incident began unfolding at around 2:15 a.m. local time, when police responded to the home at 54th Avenue and Elwood Street in Phoenix for a report of a shooting.
As an officer approached the residence to investigate, he was invited inside and was then ‘ambushed’ by a gunman, who opened fire, striking the cop multiple times, Andrews said.
The officer was able to get to safety. He was seriously injured but was expected to recover.
‘This is just one more example of the dangers that officers face every day keeping us and our community safe,’ Williams said.
‘If I seem upset, I am. This is senseless. It does not need to happen and it continues to happen over and over again.’
Backup officers responded to the scene, at which time the baby was placed outside the house and the unnamed man who was carrying the infant was detained.
When the gunman opened fire on the police, officers returned fire, Andrews said. Four officers were shot and four others were hit by bullet fragments.
A SWAT team was summoned and made attempts to negotiate with the barricaded shooter.
The standoff was ‘resolved’ at around 7 a.m. after police deployed a flashbang and a SWAT officer breached the house.
When officers entered the home, they discovered the gunman dead and a woman critically wounded. There is no word at this time on how the suspect died.
Williams said four of the wounded officers were ‘recovering’ while a fifth was ‘seriously hurt but is on the road to recovery.’
The baby had been inside the home ‘and at some point was placed in a carrier and placed outside,’ Williams said.
Sgt. Ann Justus, a police department spokesperson, said the baby was unharmed.
Senator Krysten Sinema, a Democrat from Arizona, tweeted about the shooting on Friday.
‘Horrified by this violence against law enforcement working to keep our communities safe,’ she wrote. ‘We’re thinking of everyone injured and hoping for full recoveries as we wait for more information.’
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, also addressed Friday’s standoff, tweeting: ‘Please continue to pray for the five officers injured this morning. Our men and women in blue work day and night—no matter the circumstances—to protect our state from danger. Their unwavering courage & sacrifice helps to keep us safe. Arizona is deeply grateful.’
