Three Deputies Shot, Murder Suspect Killed in Dodge City

Law enforcement communities are most likely still processing a shooting in Ford County Monday which left three deputies shot, a Kansas Highway Patrolman injured, a murder suspect fatally shot and his passenger critically wounded.

Officers from several agencies were involved in the incident, which began with a double homicide in Arizona.

Southwest Kansas law enforcement were brought in to the mix, when a Clark County Sheriff's Office Deputy noticed a blue Toyota Tundra Monday morning, driving through the rural community of Minneola. According to a press release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the vehicle "matched the description of a vehicle" that had been connected to a double homicide in Arizona. Officials from the KBI were requested to assist with the investigation by Ford County Sheriff's Department at around 9:20 a.m., Monday. KBI agents as well as Crime Scene Response Team (CSRT) officials responded to investigate what had transpired.

Clark County officials say when the deputy initiated a traffic stop on the Tundra, the "female driver and her male passenger, who was later identified as Leroy D. Malone, 39, of Phoenix, Ariz., fled". The actions of the occupants of the vehicle then, in turn, prompted Clark County officials to initiate a pursuit. That pursuit would take them North on U.S. Highway 283 and ultimately into Ford County, where law enforcement officials from Ford County Sheriff's Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol joined in.

"Deputies and troopers deployed stop sticks to try to slow the truck, and a deputy from the Clark County Sheriff's office used a maneuver to force the truck in to the ditch," the KBI press release states. Authorities were able to get the vehicle stopped east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and 113 Road in Dodge City. It was at that point, gunfire was exchanged. Authorities immediately requested the area be avoided by those in the community.

"Deputies from the Clark County Sheriff's Office and the Ford County Sheriff's office discharged their firearms," the KBI said in their release."A handgun was recovered from inside the truck."

Malone was hit "multiple times by gunfire", authorities said, and he was ultimately "pronounced dead at the scene." The female driver, who authorities have not yet identified, "received multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita," where she was last known to be listed in critical condition.

The altercation also resulted in injuries to the officers who responded. According to the KHP, two Ford County deputies were shot. "One deputy was transported to a Wichita hospital with serious gunshot wounds." The deputy was last known to be in the intensive care unit. Another deputy was treated for "shrapnel injuries" and was later released from an area hospital.

A Clark County deputy was also injured in the shooting. The KHP stated he was "shot twice". The Clark County deputy was transported to a Wichita hospital and was last known to be in serious condition. A Kansas Highway Patrolman was "bitten by a police K-9 during the shooting". Authorities, who did not say how the bite occurred, reported the trooper had "underwent surgery and was listed in good condition".

Authorities from the KBI are conducting the "ongoing" investigation in to the officer involved shooting and stated they will, "conduct a thorough and independent investigation into this shooting. Once completed, the findings will be presented to the Ford County Attorney for review."

Some videos of the shooting incident did ultimately show up on social media.

Malone was a suspect in the double murder of a couple in Phoenix, who were reportedly found Sunday shot to death in their home.

According to a report from 12News in Phoenix, police said just after 1p.m., Sunday, officers responded to the couple's home near 51st Avenue and Warner Street.  "When officers arrived, they found two adults who had been fatally shot."

The victims in Phoenix, who 12News said were engaged, were identified as Cameron Brown, 28, and Asya Ribble, 27.  Authorities were alerted to a possible problem at their home when family members requested a welfare check of the couple and their two small children.

An uncle of Brown reportedly told 12News that the family "had gotten a text message from Ribble's sister, telling them the children were locked inside the home." According to a report from 12News, the text  to the family stated,"break the window if you have to." The uncle then added that they had "forced their way inside the home and found the couple's two children, a 2-year-old girl, and a 6-year-old boy." The children were  reportedly found safe, however, authorities reported their parents were not.

Through their investigation, authorities in Arizona identified Malone as a possible suspect in the double homicide. They also determined that an "adult female was likely traveling with him."  They also determined the pair was traveling out of state and they then notified agencies to be on the look out for the duo.

Although authorities here have not yet released her identity the uncle of Brown reportedly told 12News that the woman with Malone was "Ribble's sister and Malone's girlfriend."

Police records indicate Malone has a "lengthy criminal history and has served time in jail for armed robbery and aggravated assault. A grand jury recently indicted him on alleged aggravated assault charges from September of last year," according to 12News in Arizona.

The Arizona news outlet also reported that "a neighbor, who did not want to be identified, told 12News she saw Ribble’s sister and Malone outside the home Friday around 5 a.m."

They further reported the female neighbor said "she kept walking, thinking nothing of it, until Sunday when the victim’s family forced their way into the home and found the couple dead and their children inside."

Authorities in Arizona have not said when they think the homicide there occurred or any possible motive behind it. However, Brown's uncle reportedly told 12News that "Malone had threatened Brown in the past with a gun."