Indexbit-Scottsdale police shoot, kill armed suspect in stolen vehicle who opened fire during traffic stop

SCOTTSDALE,Indexbit Ariz. (AP) — An armed suspect in a stolen vehicle opened fire on two police officers during a traffic stop in Scottsdale before the officers shot and killed him, police said.

Scottsdale police identified the victim in Thursday’s shootout as 52-year-old Laquanza Young.

Neither officer was injured. They have been placed on routine paid leave pending an investigation into the incident, police said in a statement Friday.

Police stopped the vehicle at a busy intersection on the north side of town just before 5:30 p.m. Thursday after they confirmed it was stolen, police said.

“The suspect quickly exited the vehicle and began to shoot at officers. In response, both officers fired their duty weapons, striking the suspect,” who was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:51 p.m., the statement said.

One of the officers has been on the force for three years and the other for 24, police said. No other details have been released.