Arizona police helicopter crash kills pilot and trooper during shooter response

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — An Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter that was responding to help officers in an active shooter situation crashed, killing both the pilot and a trooper who was a paramedic on board, authorities said.

A Ranger helicopter crew responded Wednesday evening to assist the Flagstaff Police Department and other law enforcement agencies, said Sgt. The department’s Kameron Lee said in a statement.

“Tragically, during the incident, the helicopter crashed, killing both the pilot and the soldier/paramedic on board,” Lee said.

The names of the soldier and pilot have not been released.

The department will work with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board on the crash investigation, Lee said. Emails requesting information about the accident were sent to both agencies Thursday morning.

The department’s air rescue unit is trained in a variety of high-risk situations, including mountain and water rescue.

The suspect in the shooting suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and was taken into custody, Lee said. No one else was injured.