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The man accused of shooting Phoenix police Officer Pete Bennett six times Sunday night has been identified as 28-year-old Brandon McCabe.
McCabe, whose name was withheld until he was released from the hospital, is pictured in the photo to the right, in a prison jumpsuit.
See also:
–Phoenix Cop Shot Six Times While on Patrol; Chief Says He’s “Extremely Lucky” to Be Alive
McCabe was just released from prison in February 2012, after serving nearly five years for two felony theft charges, one including a vehicle.
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About 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, McCabe was approached by Phoenix cop Pete Bennett, who thought McCabe was engaging in “suspicious activity” while riding a bike near 21st and Georgia avenues.
Police Chief Daniel Garcia said Monday that their suspect, now identified as McCabe, ended up running from Bennett, who chased McCabe for a bit before McCabe fell over. At that point, McCabe pulled out a handgun and started shooting at Bennett, Garcia said.
Three rounds went into Bennett’s body — one in the cheek, one in the thigh, and one in the arm — while two were stopped by Bennett’s bulletproof vest, and another was stopped by index cards Bennett was carrying in his chest pocket.
Bennett also fired back — getting off between seven and 10 shots, according to police Sergeant Trent Crump — and hit the suspect at least two times.
Garcia didn’t get too detailed about why Bennett approached McCabe, other than for “suspicious activity,” as the chief said the area is a “high-profile enforcement area,” where robberies and assaults are more common.
Yesterday evening, police Sergeant Trent Crump sent an e-mail to media stating that Bennett was out of surgery, and is now in recovery.
“The surgery went as expected but he has a long recovery in front of him,” Crump says.
McCabe’s facing charges of attempted murder and misconduct involving weapons.
