Arizona DPS officer Tyler Edenhofer killed in struggle on I-10
By Arizona Republic
A DPS trooper who had been on the job less than three months was killed late Wednesday by a man who was able to grab a duty weapon from one of the officers trying to arrest him on Interstate 10 in the West Valley, authorities said Thursday.
A second trooper was wounded but will survive.
At a news conference, Col. Frank Milstead, DPS director, identified the fallen trooper as Tyler Edenhofer, who had graduated from the state trooper academy on May 4.
Milstead said radio operators had started receiving calls about 10:20 p.m. Wednesday about a person driving erratically on Interstate 10 eastbound near Avondale Boulevard, throwing objects at vehicles.
Citizens were able to get the man out of the roadway, Milstead said.
One DPS trooper arrived, and then two others, Milstead said. Two Goodyear police officers also arrived to assist, he said.
As they attempted to take the man into custody, the man struggled with the troopers, and the fight lasted several minutes, Milstead said.
"During the struggle, one of the troopers lost his firearm to the subject, and the subject fired at least two rounds from the duty weapon," Milstead said.
One bullet hit Trooper Dalan Dorris in the trapezius, near the shoulder. It was a through-and-through wound, Milstead said.
"He's in good spirits considering the circumstances," Milstead said.
The other bullet struck Edenhofer, who was still an officer in training.
No information was immediately available about the shooter.
"The DPS family is in mourning. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family," Milstead said.
"Lives have been shattered and ruined. We're all in a little bit of a state of shock this morning."
Interstate 10 was expected to remain closed through the morning rush hour Thursday as the police investigation into the shooting continued.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news...-10/840035002/
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