There’s a wild story out of Flagstaff, Arizona, involving a gun battle across yards and rooftops that lasted for well over an hour, and, tragically, the crash of an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter, resulting in the death of both officers on board.
Two Arizona Department of Public Safety crew members were killed in a helicopter crash Wednesday night while responding to an active shooting incident in Flagstaff.
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When officers got to the scene, they were met by a victim in the front yard of a home. Shortly after, a suspect armed with a semi-automatic long rifle came from the back of the home and began shooting at the officers.
Police say during the shootout, the suspect was continuously firing at the officers, hopping from rooftop to rooftop. The suspect was eventually shot and taken into custody. The suspect was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
The officers and the victim weren’t injured.
Law enforcement authorities held a press conference on the situation on Thursday morning.
PRESS CONFERENCE just moments ago. Roof to roof, yard to yard gun battle in Flagstaff, alleged assailant in custody, DPS chopper crashes, both onboard dead.
“This neighborhood was under siege last night” Chief Connolly.https://t.co/jVtSpaS9ep
— Jeff Oravits (@JeffOravits) February 5, 2026
Several officials spoke at the conference, including DPS Colonel Jeffrey Glover, who, following a moment of silence, provided the following information regarding the helicopter:
“Late yesterday evening, at approximately 10:17 p.m., an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter was involved in an accident near Flagstaff, below the Lowell Observatory. The helicopter and crew, known as Ranger 56, departed Western Air Rescue in Kingman and were responding to a call for service to assist the Flagstaff Police Department with an active shooter incident.
“At the time of the incident, there were two DPS personnel on board. a pilot and a trooper paramedic. Unfortunately, both are tragically deceased. Our immediate priority is the safety, care, and well-being of our personnel. We are working closely with our state, local, and federal public safety partners and aviation authorities, including the FAA and NTSB, as they respond to and assess the situation for us. Out of respect for those involved and to ensure accurate information. We will not be releasing additional details about the deceased at this time. We are committed to providing updates as more information becomes available and is confirmed.”
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Flagstaff Police Chief Sean Connolly also spoke, first extending thanks and acknowledgment to the community and the law enforcement agencies who worked together to bring the suspect into custody, then providing additional information regarding the incident:
“This neighborhood was under siege last night. So, I want to walk you through a little bit of what this incredible incident was to this community and to the members of not only the Flagstaff Police Department, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Public Safety.
“So, at about 8:31 last night, we received a domestic violence call in the 1700 block of Shelley Drive. When our officers arrived on scene, we were contacted by a victim in the front yard of a residence. This victim was uninjured. As we were having contact with the victim and trying to decipher what exactly was going on, from the back of this residence, an individual, a career criminal, armed with a long rifle, a semi-automatic long rifle, opened fire on our officers and this victim. These officers’ valor and their heroic behavior resulted in us putting ourselves between that gunfire and this victim and rescuing her to safety.
“Here’s the incredible next events that I think are just shocking to a lot of us. What occurs over the next two hours in this residential community is the Flagstaff Police Department, the Sheriff’s Office, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Public Safety attempting to bring safety and peace to this neighborhood. So, from just after 8:30 till almost 10:20, our officers were involved in numerous gun battles with this individual, with dozens and dozens of rounds being fired during these gun battles.”
Connolly provided some details regarding the officers involved:
“I’m grateful, beyond grateful, to say that none of our officers were struck or wounded by gunfire. We had three Flagstaff police officers that were involved in officer-involved shootings. Their tenure with us ranges from three years to eight years in law enforcement. There was also a Department of Public Safety employee that fired their weapon during this instance, and they have approximately three and a half years. As is standard policy and protocol, these officers are on administrative leave.”
Connolly provided additional details regarding the incident itself and the ongoing investigation:
“In addition to this, during that two hours, what we had was an individual armed with a long rifle, a semi-automatic long rifle, hopping from roof to roof, taking points of vantage from high ground, firing upon our officers into homes, multiple backyards, multiple community members, multiple rooftops. At about 10:20ish, we were able to bring this suspect into custody. The suspect is currently at Flagstaff Medical Center, receiving treatment.
“Right about that same time, as you heard Director Glover, the tragedy occurred with the helicopter. It’s really important for us in these regional communities to have that air support from the Department of Public Safety. So, I can’t thank you enough. We don’t have those types of assets here. So, for them to come overhead in what is a very dark sky community and provide us with some eyes and ears on some things was really important to our safety. And then tragically, that helicopter was involved in an accident. Right now, we have a great appreciation for the major incident division of the Department of Public Safety. This elite investigative team, under the umbrella of transparency and legitimacy, will be taking the lead on this investigation.”
This is a developing story. RedState will provide further updates as warranted.
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