Veteran Gilbert police officer shot, killed at traffic stop

A 16-year veteran Gilbert police officer was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop Thursday night and two suspects were taken into custody following a 30 to 50-mile-long high-speed chase along U.S. 60 that ended in a gunbattle near Superior.
Lt. Eric Shuhandler, a patrol supervisor, was shot once in the head at 10:42 p.m. — 12 minutes after he had stopped a pickup truck for an obstructed license plate at the intersection of Baseline Road and Val Vista Drive along the Gilbert-Mesa border. The shooting occurred in a strip mall on the southeast corner of the intersection. Shuhandler was 42.
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Gilbert police identified the shooting suspect as Christopher A. Redondo, 35, of Globe, and the driver/alleged accomplice as Daimen A. Irizarry, 30, of Gilbert.
Authorities say they do not have a motive for the shooting, but said that Shuhandler had run a check on the truck's two occupants and found that the passenger had an outstanding warrant. Shuhandler was walking back to the passenger side of the pickup when the passenger opened fire, striking the officer.
It was not immediately clear what the outstanding warrant was for.
Shuhandler was pronounced dead on arrival at Maricopa Medical Center. Both suspects suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were hospitalized, according to Gilbert police spokesman Sgt. Mark Marino.
Shuhandler is survived by his ex-wife and two daughters, ages 10 and 12, as well as a sister and his parents, who have been notified and who are now on the way to Arizona, Marino said.
A memorial fund has been set up for the fallen officer at Wells Fargo bank. The account is #1359531975.
Marino said two Mesa police sergeants were near the scene when the officer was shot and ran to his aid while an unidentified witness called 911.
Gilbert police picked up the suspects at Greenfield Road, less than half-a-mile east of the shooting scene, and a high-speed chase began north on Greenfield to the eastbound lanes of U.S. 60.
Marino said the suspects tossed debris from the truck and fired shots at police throughout the chase, disabling at least five vehicles, three of them Mesa squad cars and one a Gilbert patrol vehicle. He said other squad cars picked up the officers from the disabled vehicles and continued the pursuit.
Marino said the chase lasted "30 to 50 miles" and abruptly ended on the highway when the suspects stopped the truck.
"The guys stopped and the shooting started," he said.
Besides Gilbert and Mesa police, Maricopa and Pinal sheriffs' deputies and state Department of Public Safety officers were involved in the chase and shootout, Marino said. No officers were hit by gunfire, he said.
Marino did not know what weapons the suspects used.
Gilbert Police Chief Tom Dorn's voice cracked as said he and the department mourn the "senseless loss of a brother, father, son and friend."
Shuhandler had lived on North 103rd Place in Scottsdale but had recently moved out, a neighbor said.
Gilbert Mayor John Lewis said Shuhandler had introduced him to the Gilbert Police Department after he became mayor last June.
"I received a call about 12:30 p.m. last night and my heart just sank immediately," said Lewis. "I have an intense, sad feeling…It's a very, very sad day."
Lewis said that his emotions are hard to overcome and represent the feelings of the town.
Shuhandler was "extremely upbeat, positive, had a great smile and was dedicated to his job…"We'll continue to emulate his model. He served us well and we'll strive to be like him."
"He loved his daughters," the mayor added.
Shuhandler participated in Issue Days, a part of the Gilbert Leadership program organized by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce that offers participants a detailed study of the town and its issues.
"He was the epitome of professionalism," said Bobbi Smith, a Gilbert resident and one of the program's coordinators. "It's a terrible loss to the community."
Shunhandler was the second Arizona law officer to die in the line of duty in recent weeks.
Department of Public Safety officer Chris Marano was struck and killed last month by another officer's patrol car while he was laying down spike strips to stop a vehicle during a high-speed freeway chase in Phoenix.

RIP Brother.

 

Prayers sent for the Familly

 

Sad day, we will be praying for the family of the fallen officer.

 

shitass criminal fucks.


for the family and fellow officers.

 

Rip

 

I heard the shooter was also affiliated with mexican gangs down here in the valley.......even though he lived in Globe.He looks mexican.

 

Prayers out to the family and his fellow officers I couldnt agree with Tigerfan more. Even driving their patrol car isnt routine.

 

RIP Lt. Eric Shuhandler



I agree Jeff. There is nothing routine out there on the roads anymore. To you and all the officers out there, stay safe.

 

A tragedy for the Shuhandler family, my prays will go out to them.

 

Prayers out to the family and RIP

 

Could not have said it better. How and why are these fuck faces taken alive? I would still be beating on there dead bodies.

Prayers to the family and fellow officers.

 

A public hanging sounds good!

 

x10000000

 

The phrase "routine traffic stop" just makes my blood boil. Some people will never understand. Prayers out to his family and friends. Thank you for your sacrifice Lt.

 

My prayers go out to the officer, his family, friends and colleagues.

 

X2.

 

FYI..the pursuit ended in an area that I patrol. Just wish I was on duty when it happended. Heard a rumor that one of our Deputies got in the final gunfight at the end.

 

Will be including his family in my prayers tonite