March 29, 2024 2:47 AM
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Suspect Dead After Open Firing on Yavapai County Sheriff’s Deputies – Black Canyon City

At approximately 10:30 p.m. last evening, YCSO deputies responded to a 911 call from a woman on School House Road in Black Canyon City, who stated her husband Thomas Henzler was intoxicated and had fired a bullet into the ceiling to get her attention.

The wife also stated Henzler knew law enforcement would be called, and that he had begun to setup an ambush on the only access point to the house, which was a bridge with a remote only gate. The wife wisely was able to keep the 911 dispatcher on the phone without her husband knowing, so as to keep YCSO updated as to the location of the suspect, who was moving from the bridge to the house multiple times to grab more ammunition. YCSO dispatchers also heard Henzler telling his wife that he would shoot at law enforcement to “do a suicide by cop.”

YCSO responded to the scene along with the Department of Public Safety (DPS). Deputies requested a tactical team fearing a hostage situation after learning that Henzler was trying to force his wife to go to the ambush site with him.

Due to the remote location of the house, DPS called out their Air Ranger to assist. After a while, the wife exited the house by herself and opened the gate. Henzler was still in the house, and YCSO attempted to call the subject but got no response.

Approximately an hour later Henzler exited the house and walked towards deputies. He opened fire after getting near deputies, who returned fire. Henzler was shot and succumbed to his injuries.

YCSO has contacted DPS to do an independent investigation of the officer involved shooting, which they will be conducting over the coming weeks.

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