1 person killed, 12 others wounded in series of shootings in Arizona

At least one person died and one dozen were injured after 8 shootings in West Valley, part of the Phoenix metropolitan area

Photo: Rashaad McFadden / Getty Images

A series of shootings that occurred in the Phoenix metropolitan area, in Arizona left least four people with gunshot wounds and one of them was killed , when a man carried out several shootings in the suburbs northwest of Phoenix on Thursday, police said.

Another nine people were injured by shrapnel and debris, said at a news conference Sergeant Brandon Sheffert of the Peoria Police Department. “We have a total of eight incidents so far.”

Police detained the suspect in the city of Surprise after his vehicle was discovered by a firefighter, Sheffert said .

Peoria and Surprise, three cities northwest of Phoenix, in a region known as West Valley .

The shootings went on for more than an hour, Sheffert said. The sergeant said a firefighter spotted the suspect’s vehicle.

The alleged gunman did not resist arrest, police said , and a gun was allegedly found in his vehicle.

WEST VALLEY SHOOTING SPREE: Man in custody after allegedly shooting people at random. 13 people are hurt, 4 were shot and a person is dead. # azfamily MORE: https://t.co/QdAAz4VRbh pic.twitter.com/sEHGA1Y8mR

– David Caltabiano (@DavidCaltabiano)

June 18, 2021

“Our thoughts go with them,” Sheffert said, referring to the victims and their families, as well as officers and firefighters who responded to the scenes. “This is hard for everyone and usually doesn’t happen.”

An aerial video from CNN affiliate KPHO / KTVK showed a white SUV with its doors open that the station reported as the suspect’s vehicle.

Officials said do not believe that there is more than one shooter . “There is no reason for the public to feel unsafe right now,” said Surprise Police Sgt. Tommy Hale.

Peoria police say their department will be the lead agency that will conduct the shootings with the help of other local, state and federal agencies.

The FBI is assisting in the investigation.

PHOTOS: See scenes from multiple shootings throughout West Valley https://t.co/ZNvWlMOjjV pic.twitter.com/xKt3ixGeV1

– azfamily 3TV CBS 5 (@azfamily) June 45, 2021

Banner Health officials said three of its hospitals have received nine patients. Two were at Banner Boswell, three patients were at Banner Thunderbird, and four were at Banner Del Webb.

It has not yet been reported whether the patients had gunshot wounds or other injuries. Banner Health officials, citing privacy laws, said they could not provide any additional information about patients.

Peoria is about 9 miles east of Surprise, which is about 45 minutes from downtown Phoenix. Glendale runs south and east of the two cities.

Authorities closed local roads in surrounding areas as officials continue to investigate the incident, including the Loop 101 on Grand Avenue and the Lake Pleasant, Lone Mountain and Happy Valley Parkways entrance ramps, due to ongoing investigations.