The first officers on scene went into the house because they felt they had to act quickly, Crump said.
Advertisement
Sgt. Trent Crump identified the gunman Tuesday as 26-year-old Alex Arthur Buckner. The suspect was eventually shot by police, the newspaper said.
Neighbors are still in shock after yesterday’s events and they say they live in a tight-knit neighborhood. They were able to remove the 18-year-old sister, who later died at the hospital. All the victims had gunshot wounds, but a medical examiner will determine how they died.
“We have no idea what the motive is, or what sparked this”, said Crump, adding that neighbors heard an argument between the alleged suspect and his father about 30 minutes before the shootings.
“On a day of tragedy-unbelievable tragedy, unbelievable violence that occurred inside that home-we should also take heart in the incredible heroism of our Phoenix police officers and firefighters”. They took Alex Buckner’s body with them. Police and firefighters braved bullets and flames as they responded to the fatal shooting and house fire.
Police received a 911 call from one of the family members, who reported that a relative was shooting at the people in the home.
This image made from video provided by KNXV ABC-15 Arizona shows firefighters atop a house engulfed in flames in Phoenix on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016.
Phoenix police say four people are dead including the gunman after a house fire and shooting.
“We have stuff that the military uses”, Jamison said. Crump said that one officer was treated for smoke inhalation. The scene in this quiet Phoenix neighborhood sounds like something out of a movie.
A fire department spokeswoman says the shooter set the house on fire, which crews extinguished after it flared up for a second time. “This is a family that is just devastated”, Yahner said.
“The scene is a mess”, he said.
Advertisement
“We’re getting some feedback from family members at this point on some of the problems that the suspect may have had”, Crump said. The fire and water damage will complicate the investigation as investigators work to piece together all of the details about the tragic event.
