Body cam: Arizona Trooper is Shot By Suspect Before He Says “Gotta Go Bro” and Speeds Off

As Trooper Harkins approached a dark-colored Kia four-door sedan, the driver, later identified as 29-year-old Luis Mateo Jacobo Borja, leaned out of the window and uttered the words, “Gotta go bro,” before shooting Harkins in the leg. Caught off guard, Harkins stumbled and fell to the ground, seeking refuge near his own vehicle. He quickly reported that he had been shot and that Borja had fled south on 21st Avenue.

In the midst of the chaos, Harkins retrieved what appeared to be a tourniquet from a compartment in his driver’s side door. Another law enforcement officer arrived at the scene and immediately provided aid to Harkins, urging him to stay conscious and stay with him.

The injured trooper was gently guided to lie down with his back on the ground, while the assisting officer relayed the situation over the radio, requesting urgent assistance for Harkins’ gunshot wound to his left leg.

Harkins was subsequently transported to the hospital and released later that night after receiving medical treatment. Police confirmed that Borja had fired at law enforcement officers twice before crashing into a wall near 36th Avenue and Thomas Road.

One officer was injured by shrapnel but was released from the hospital on Monday night. Borja was found dead in his car, but police did not disclose whether the fatal wound was self-inflicted or caused by an officer who had fired upon him with a rifle.

This incident highlights the dangers law enforcement officers face during routine encounters and the swift response required to ensure the safety and well-being of all involved. The body-worn camera footage and the accounts from the scene provide valuable evidence for the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the subsequent events leading to Borja’s death.