An Arizona police helicopter crashed Wednesday night while responding to an active shooting, killing two of its occupants on board.
A pilot and trooper-paramedic for the Arizona Department of Public Safety died in the tragedy in Flagstaff, Ariz., police confirmed Thursday, while video shared online captured the helicopter free-falling out of the night sky.
Their identities have not been revealed.
“You could hear the blades going,” local resident Amanda Brewer, who called 911 to report the shooting, told AzFamily.
“Then there was a very large crash; it shook the house. It was startling.”
Brewer said she heard more than 20 shots in the neighborhood of Flagstaff where she lives.
Video, seen by KPHO, captured a fire raging in a forest, and locals were urged to shelter in place.
The shooter was left with non-fatal injuries after exchanging fire with cops. They have since been arrested, cops said.
The cause of the helicopter crash has not been released and the investigation is ongoing.
