One of the two Phoenix police detectives who was shot earlier this week has been released from the hospital.
Detective John Hobbs, 43, died on Monday after being shot by 28-year-old William Thornton. Police Chief Daniel Garcia announced today that the other detective who was shot, 37-year-old Albert Casados, has been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
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-Two Phoenix Police Officers Shot, One Killed
Hobbs and Casados, detectives in Phoenix PD's Major Offender Bureau, had been tracking Thornton, who had a warrant for his arrest, and was also suspected of shooting a man in Phoenix last month.
The detectives were working undercover, but Thornton apparently figured them as police officers on Monday, and attempted to evade them in his car, but he ended up crashing his car near 43rd Avenue and Bethany Home Road and running away.
At one point, police say Thornton started shooting at the detectives, who were joined by a third detective in the chase. Thornton shot Hobbs and Casados, and the detectives shot back.
Thornton was pronounced dead at the scene, while Hobbs and Casados were hospitalized. Hobbs died that afternoon.
Chief Garcia said Casados was released from the hospital this morning, and is recovering at home. He's been with Phoenix PD for nine years, and has spent three of those years with the Major Offender Bureau.
Phoenix Police Sergeant Steve Martos said Casados was shot once in the side, and once in the leg.
As for Thornton, state prison records show he was released from prison in January after serving about 18 months of a two-year sentence for resisting arrest and drug possession out of Maricopa County. A warrant was issued for his arrest a few weeks after his release for absconding from parole. Police believe he shot a man, who lived, just a few days prior. The Arizona Republic obtained files detailing Thornton's troubled life, from childhood, which you can read about here.
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