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2 arrests made for 'ambush' shooting that injured 2 Phoenix police officers

An "ambush" style shooting where one police officer was shot happened in west Phoenix near 27th and Maryland avenues.

PHOENIX — A man has been arrested in connection to an "ambush" style shooting that left two police officers injured in west Phoenix Sunday morning, officials said. 

Authorities identified 28-year-old Devonte Thornton as the suspected shooter.

Two officers were driving along Maryland Avenue near 27th Avenue when a suspect opened fire on them, the Phoenix Police Department said.

One of the officers was shot in the wrist and was treated and is expected to recover. Another officer was also treated for minor injuries due to flying glass.

Authorities said the two officers tried stopping a vehicle for a traffic violation when the vehicle took off and officers lost sight of it. The officers saw the vehicle a short time later and tried stopping it again. 

While the two policemen were driving, someone standing along the road opened fire on police and a barrage of bullets struck the police vehicle, officials said.

The driver of the suspect vehicle, 18-year-old Javon Beasley, took off on foot. Beasley was taken into custody once additional officers arrived on the scene.

Authorities searched for the other suspect throughout the day. Phoenix police said Sunday night that Thornton was arrested and has been booked for attempted homicide.

Court records show Thornton is Beasley's brother and denied having contact with Beasley during the shooting.

Beasley allegedly admitted to calling someone during the police chase and declined to say who he was speaking with, court records show. Investigators believe Beasley called Thornton for help. 

“This is the seventh Phoenix officer shot and twelfth injured in the line of duty in the past three months. This kind of violence within our community and toward police officers cannot become the new normal,” Phoenix police chief Jeri Williams said in a news release.

Police said the officer who was shot is "in great spirits." He was released from the hospital on Monday.

RELATED: Officer shoots and kills man who got into police SUV in west Phoenix

RELATED: Tempe PD: Man arrested after deadly shooting, firing at officer, attempted carjacking

2022 Valley Police Shootings: 

Below is a map of all of the reported incidents where Valley police officers have shot civilians or have been shot by civilians in 2022. 

12 News will continue to update the map as more police-involved shooting are reported throughout the year. 

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