Suspects involved in I-40 pursuit identified as homicide suspects

HOLBROOK, AZ — A man and woman connected to a homicide investigation were taken into custody early Friday after leading authorities in New Mexico and Arizona on a pursuit and shooting at troopers, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said.

Around 2:15 a.m on Friday, New Mexico State Police told DPS that its officers were in pursuit of a white Ram pickup truck on westbound Interstate 40 that was headed toward Arizona.

Once the alleged suspects crossed the state line, DPS troopers took over the pursuit, said DPS. During the chase, the suspects -- later identified as a 37-year-old man and 25-year-old woman -- began shooting at both New Mexico and Arizona authorities, said DPS.

DPS said authorities were able to disable the suspects' vehicle, ending the pursuit near milepost 311 (Adamana Road), which sits east of Holbrook. Both suspects were taken into custody and are being held in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department.

No troopers were hurt during the pursuit or while taking the suspects into custody.

It is not immediately clear how LAPD is connected to the case, but DPS said the case involves homicide, stolen weapons, and a stolen vehicle, and that additional information was expected to be released by LAPD.

Both suspects are now facing felony charges in Arizona, DPS said.

“Our state troopers should be commended for their fast thinking and bravery in stopping a lethal threat that entered into our state,” said Lt. Colonel Heston Silbert, Deputy Director of AZDPS.