Woman shoots 3 deputies with pellet gun, later arrested south of Payson

TONTO BASIN, AZ (AZFamily) — A woman is in jail after investigators said she opened fire on Gila County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Thursday afternoon, hitting three deputies.

Deputies were called out to a home around 1:30 p.m. in Tonto Basin, which is nearly 30 miles south of Payson, for a 34-year-old woman who was reportedly suicidal and had taken pills. She was also armed with a gun.

When GCSO negotiators tried to talk her out of the home, she went out and had a pellet gun. The suspect then went back inside and returned outside where she pointed the pellet shotgun at deputies, fired once, hitting three deputies with birdshot pellets. The deputies suffered minor injuries.

One of the deputies returned fire but missed. The woman dropped the gun and ran back inside for another shotgun. Deputies took her into custody before she shot the second shotgun, investigators said.

“These situations are becoming all too familiar for law enforcement and the dangers my Deputies face during their shifts. The safety of our communities and staff is our number one priority and tonight they showed great restraint and courage,” said Gila County Sheriff Adam Shepherd. He added that the deputies went home on Thursday night.

This is the 14th shooting involving law enforcement outside the Phoenix area so far in 2025, and the 24th overall in the state.

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