NOGALES, Ariz. (AP) - A police officer in the Arizona border city of Nogales was killed after he tried to stop a carjacking suspect.
Nogales Police Officer Jesus “Chuy” Cordova succumbed to his injuries Friday afternoon after being airlifted to a hospital in Tucson, the department said.
“We are mourning as a department and as a community,” Nogales Police Chief Roy Bermudez said.
Nogales police responded to reports of an armed carjacker around 2:40 p.m. Authorities say Cordova spotted the suspect vehicle driving away from the scene.
Cordova initiated a traffic stop. The suspect got out and opened fire, wounding Cordova.
Police say the suspect went on to carjack two more vehicles. He then fled from law enforcement on foot before being apprehended in a trailer park. He was taken into custody without incident.
Police identified the suspected shooter as David Ernesto Murillo, 28, of Tempe. They said there were no other suspects at large.
A female relative of Murillo’s abruptly hung up when reached by phone Saturday.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada told Tucson’s KGUN-TV that Cordova was a former deputy for his agency.
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