Kane County SWAT responds to active shooter situation in Page, Arizona

PAGE, Arizona (ABC4) — Alongside other agencies, Kane County SWAT teams from Utah responded to assist the Page Police Department with an active shooter situation at a business and then motel.

After fleeing the initial scene, the suspect checked into a motel, and there was a standoff between Page Police, multiple other agencies, and the suspect. No one was hurt during the incident, but the suspect did shoot and kill his own dog.

According to a release from the Page Police Department, the active shooter situation was reported to police around 12:50 p.m. on Tuesday. The shooter was located in the 2000 block of Industrial Drive in Page.

Though the investigation, police determined that the suspect arrived, exited a car, and began shooting at employees with a handgun. He fired multiple rounds at a moving vehicle nearby and almost hit the driver. The vehicle then crashed, which police say likely hindered the shooter’s efforts.

The suspect fled the scene by car before police arrived, and police placed all city schools, government buildings, and nearby businesses on lockdown.

Based on witness interviews, investigators identified the suspect and located his car at a motel parking lot around 1:43 p.m. Police were able to confirm that he had checked into the motel and found the room he was staying in. The building was evacuated, and a negotiator spoke to the suspect over phone.

The suspect made threatening comments and fired his gun from inside the motel room, which police later learned was him shooting and killing his dog that was in the room with him.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the National Park Service sent officers to assist. Kane County and Coconino County SWAT teams also responded.

Negotiators from Page Police and the National Park Service continued to communicate with the suspect, and at 3:25 p.m., he was taken into custody without further violence.

The suspect has not been identified at this time, but he was booked on two counts of attempted first degree murder. Police said that the investigation is ongoing and that more charges will likely be filed in the coming days.

Page Police Chief Tim Lange said, “We are grateful that nobody was seriously hurt during this incident, which highlights the value of the agreements we have in place with our local law enforcement partners that allows agencies to work together in times of crisis.”

He stated that their department trains with other agencies in order to prepare for situations like this one, and he also thanked the citizens who came forward to provide information that helped in identifying and arresting the suspect.

He also highlighted the work of their dispatchers, especially Dispatch Supervisor Jackie Lyons and Lead Dispatcher Taylor McNally, who handled the call in its entirety.

“During the incident, they handled 126 calls, many of which were unnecessary, while simultaneously handling all of the radio traffic and phone calls from all of the responding agencies,” Lange said. He reminded citizens to refrain from calling dispatch in an emergency unless you have important information about the incident, or another emergency.