Police: Suspect in ambush on Phoenix officers died of self-inflicted gunshot wound

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- Investigators revealed new information about the ambush on a police officer that led to a standoff and another shooting which left 9 officers hurt at a Phoenix home on Friday morning. Police now say Morris Richard Jones died after shooting himself. Officers found him dead inside the home near 54th Avenue and Broadway road.

Originally, police didn’t say how he died. Phoenix Police Sgt. Ann Justus said Monday that although Jones was shot by police, an autopsy showed he took his own life.

In the same update, Justus said another one of the officers shot by Jones was released from the hospital and is now recovering at home. That leaves one officer still in the hospital. Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams said she’s hoping they’ll be home by the end of the week.

“I’m just thankful that they’re going to recover,” she said during a one-on-one interview with Arizona’s Family. “What unfolded was senseless. What unfolded didn’t have to happen in the way that it happened. What happened is our country needs to look at our criminal justice system.” Chief Williams said she planned to work with the Major Cities Chiefs Association. Williams is the president of that group.

It all started on Friday morning around 2 a.m. when a woman called 911 after she was shot. Police said as that first officer approached the home, Jones invited him in, only to then shoot him several times. The officer escaped to safety while Jones stayed inside the home.

At some point, Jones’ family member came out with a baby, and he put the baby down at the officers’ command and backed away. As officers approached to get that infant, Jones opened fire, shooting four of them. Another four officers were injured by shrapnel. They opted to wait on medical help and instead stayed at the scene. “Most of them are very thankful that they’re alive, but still wanting to get back to work and take care of the calls for service,” Chief Williams said.

The woman who was shot died. She’s been identified as Shatifah Lobley. Police said Lobley was the baby’s mother, and Jones was the father.

Williams said she’s been touched by the support they’ve received from the community. “We never take it lightly when we get that kind of support. It was very comforting to hear all of the shows of support from messages to phone calls to the floral arrangements coming to the precincts and the stations,” she said.

The baby is safe, police said, and in the custody of the Department of Child Safety.

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