On Friday June 10, 2021 Sherriff's from the Cochise County Sherriff's Office, engaged in a high speed car chase which resulted in a fatal shootout, leaving one trooper hospitalized from a gunshot wound to the shoulder and the suspect dead.

At roughly 3:10 a.m., the suspect, later identified as 21-year-old Josiah Byard, was traveling eastbound on interstate 10, exceeding speeds of 100 mph. Unknown to Byard, he passed a trooper at his high rate of speed, where the trooper then conducted a traffic stop.

During the traffic stop, the trooper stated Byard was under arrest and was being taken into custody. Moments later, Byard sped off, initiating a high speed chase. As the trooper caught up to Byard, additional responding officers conducted a successful spike, which deflated multiple tires on the suspect's vehicle. With the vehicle now vulnerable, the trooper attempted to conduct a pit maneuver, but began taking fire from Byard's rear window. The trooper, now wounded still managed to hit the fleeing vehicle, causing Byard's vehicle to lose control and slam into an embankment.

Byard exited his now disabled vehicle and began fleeing the area on foot just moments before additional law enforcement could provide assistance. As he fled, Byard headed to the closest residence in the area, where he was politely invited in by the home owners. Convenient for Byard, the family had been awake, as they were packing to head out on a family trip that morning.

Byard, who was now in a safe home just off the freeway, was offered water and given a phone to call his mother. The home owners, concerned with the police presence on the freeway, took it upon themselves to evaluate the chain of events which had just occurred. A stranger, sweaty and out of breathe, and a massive swarm of police vehicles in the area, they immediately called 911. One home occupant, who was now on the phone with dispatch had mentioned the suspect was in their living room and he was seeking a ride into town.

Dispatch repeated multiple times to not let the suspect leave the area. During that time, Byard had exited the home and entered the home owners truck. An overhead police helicopter scanned the area for heat signatures, and located the suspect who was still occupying the home owners truck.

Moments later, the group of law enforcement vehicles arrived at the residence and began giving verbal commands to Byard, to exit the truck and to disarm himself. Byard then exited the vehicle and headed toward the front door of the home. Shown on the Ring Doorbell footage, Byard had exited the vehicle armed and was attempting to hide his Glock 31 handgun, equipped with a drum magazine. Responding troopers continued to give verbal commands to Byard, but he continued to resist as he approached the home.

Upon reaching the home, Byard opened the front screen door, where the troopers then began firing multiple shots, fatally striking him. Byard was provided medical assistance and transported to a local hospital, where he later passed away from his gun inflicted injuries. Reports have stated, Byard's mother contacted dispatch and informed them that her son was mentally unstable.

Although local law enforcement cannot be sure what wound have happened had Byard entered the home, but in that moment it was evaluated that Byard was going to take the home owners hostage. The responding troopers were aware of the situation and knew occupants were inside the home. Let us know what you think in the comments below. Do you think the troopers made the right call? Do you believe Byard was up to no good heading back into the home?