AZMEX UPDATE2 27-4-15

AZMEX UPDATE2 27 APR 2015


MCSO: 2 dead, 2 wounded in mountain gun battle

Posted: Apr 27, 2015 5:05 PM MST
Updated: Apr 27, 2015 5:09 PM MST
By Phil Benson
http://www.kpho.com/story/28912720/mcso-2-dead-2-wounded-in-mountain-gun-battle

Photo of the shooting scene near Gila Bend. (Source: Viewer-submitted)

GILA BEND, AZ (KPHO/KTVK) -

Two people were shot and killed and two others wounded in mountain gun battle Monday between two groups of people, likely drug smugglers, a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office spokesman said.

The shootout happened about six miles east of Gila Bend in an area that is considered a high-traffic corridor for human and drug smuggling.

Two groups of people ran across each other, MCSO spokesman Joaquin Enriquez said. The group that called police after the gunfire ended had six people traveling together, Enriquez said. Of the six, two were killed, two were wounded and two others vanished.

The second group of people disappeared into the mountains, Enriquez said.

SWAT officers and police dogs from MCSO and Border Patrol agents are canvassing a huge area, which includes land where the U.S. Air Force has a live fire practice range, Enriquez said.

Sheriff's deputies found a large quantity of marijuana but they're not sure if it's directly related to the shootings, he added.

Read more: http://www.kpho.com/story/28912720/mcso-2-dead-2-wounded-in-mountain-gun-battle#ixzz3YYjseFUc

END



Deadly shooting near Gila Bend; massive manhunt underway
Posted: Apr 27, 2015 4:47 PM MST
Updated: Apr 27, 2015 4:52 PM MST
By Dan Marries
http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/28912621/deadly-shooting-near-gila-bend-massive-manhunt-underway

MCSO deputies search for suspects in deadly shooting. Photo source: @NavidehABC15
A portion of Hwy 85 was closed down during investigation. Photo source: Ken Dungey
TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -

There's a massive manhunt underway northwest of Tucson following a deadly shooting near Gila Bend.

Customs and Border Protection spokesman Victor Brabble says agents with the Tucson Sector and the Office of Air and Marine responded to a 911 call forwarded by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office at 12:15 p.m. Monday.

Brabble says, "The caller reported there were several gunshot victims as a result of a shooting south of Gila Bend, Arizona. A CBP helicopter arrived on the scene and confirmed two deceased subjects and two injured subjects."

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office confirmed that information in a tweet, saying two people were shot and killed and another wounded near Gila Bend. Sheriff's investigators said the suspects are possibly still in the area. The shooting happened about six miles east of Gila Bend, MCSO said.

END