As MCSO looks into possible tie to murdered Sedona couple, others wait to see if weapon traces back to Holder’s Operation Fast and Furious
ANTHEM – Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputy William Coleman, 50, was shot and killed shortly after 4 a.m. on Sunday when he and two other deputies responded to a burglary in progress call in the Anthem community.
When deputies arrived outside the Anthem Medical Plaza behind the CVS shopping center at the northwest corner of Anthem Way and Galvin Parkway, a suspect emerged from a parked minivan and began shooting at the deputies with a semiautomatic rifle.
According to Sheriff Joe Arpaio, deputies returned fire, killing the suspect, who has not yet been identified.
Arpaio said although Coleman was wearing a vest, that kind of body armor is no match for semiautomatic weapons.
Coleman, a 20-year veteran and the first MCSO deputy to be killed in the line of duty since 1995, leaves behind a wife and several children, including a 4 and 7-year-old.
The incident was still under investigation several hours later with the entire shopping center cordoned off with crime scene tape and it was unknown if anything was stolen by the suspect or if there were other suspects involved.
Deputies also rescued a pit bull that was inside the suspect’s van.
Arpaio stated, “There is a war on against police across the country. We live in a violent world.”
However, he added, “We’re pretty sure this is just an isolated incident.”
Arpaio said, “Unfortunately, one of our deputies was killed in the line of duty today. It is extremely sad for everyone. He was an excellent officer.”
MCSO is also investigating whether this incident is related to the shooting deaths of two New Hampshire visitors, whose bodies were discovered two days earlier at an overlook in Sedona on Arizona 89A in a red Subaru with the engine still running.
The victims in the Sedona incident, identified as James Johnson and Carol Raynsford, both 63, were shot with the same type of semiautomatic .223 rifle as Coleman.
Ballistics testing was scheduled for Monday to determine if the shots in both cases were actually fired from the same weapon.
Another possibility was raised in a comment on Doug Ross’ article titled, “Remember the good old days when we had real media?” posted on the blog directorblue.blogspot.com
“Duke C.” stated Attorney General Eric Holder and the U.S. Department of Justice are “holding their breath that this weapon is not connected to gunwalker’s Fast and Furious.”
His comment was later posted on the “Sipsey Street Irregulars” blog, where Mike Vanderboegh has been tirelessly covering the Fast and Furious scandal.
Vanderboegh said there were many AR-type weapons sold as part of Fast and Furious, and stated, “[I]t will be interesting to see what the trace turns up. Sheriff Joe Arpaio is not known for his love of the feds, so we shall hear presently if the weapon traces back to Eric Holder’s gunwalker conspiracy.”
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