The westbound lanes of I-10 west of Phoenix, Arizona, were shut down this morning following a shooting incident involving a truck driver and Department of Public Safety Officers.
Trucker Reports Taking Gunfire On I-10
Around 2:40 a.m today, a truck driver reported that he had been fired upon by a motorist near Phoenix on I-10 near mile marker 63.
Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers say that they were able to track the suspected shooter — who was also a suspect in another shooting — to at the Bouse Wash Rest Area on I-10 at mile marker 53.
From the La Paz County Sheriff’s Office: “Local law enforcement was advised of a shooting that had occurred in the Phoenix area and the suspect was believed to be in La Paz County. Soon after receiving the suspect information, Central Dispatch received a 911 call of a separate shooting near mile post 63 (9 miles west of the Maricopa County line). This ended up, allegedly, being the same suspect out of the Phoenix.”
The suspect, later identified as 36-year-old Sladjan Petkovic, was reportedly taking cover within his vehicle when police located him.
Petkovic is said to have opened fire on police. Police returned fire. Petkovik was heavily armed, according to police, and the standoff lasted over half an hour.
Police have confirmed that Petkovic sustained a gunshot wound and was severely injured, but it isn’t clear whether it was self inflicted or a result of the gunfire exchanged by police.
Petkovic was airlifted to the hospital.
No police were hurt in the standoff.
The truck driver who initially reported that he had been shot at suffered injuries from shrapnel.
Petkovic was a suspect in the fatal shooting of 45-year-old Steven Arvallo at Arvallo’s home on November 27, according to a report from Fox 10.
Interstate Shut Down For Investigation
Westbound I-10 is closed from mile maker 81 to mile marker 45. There is no estimated time for the westbound lanes of the interstate to reopen. Eastbound I-10 is open.
Big rigs backed up for miles while DPS investigating a police situation. I-10 westbound is closed from MP 81 to 45. Details at 5:30 @AZMorningNews @KTAR923 pic.twitter.com/Mz2NxcKBzO
— Jim Cross (@Crossfire923) November 28, 2017
The incident remains under investigation.
The driver of this vehicle has been arrested after a shootout with police, which has closed the I-10 for the past 6 hours has been identified as 36-year-old Sladjan Petkovic. He is also the suspect in a shooting that killed one man last night in Phoenix. #I10 pic.twitter.com/HbPamQD6sC
— Cameron Ridle (@CameronRidle) November 28, 2017