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Man accused of shooting Pima County deputy arrested after manhunt

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A man suspected of ambushing and shooting a Pima County sheriff's deputy as he responded to a domestic violence call was arrested and booked into jail after evading deputies since Tuesday's incident, officials said.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos held a press conference Sunday morning in which he said that a deputy was stopped near Irvington and Midvale Park roads around 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning and was told that 39-year-old Gabriel Angel Altamirano was in the area and was armed.

Nanos said officers from multiple law enforcement agencies combed the area looking for Altamirano and eventually found him in the “Santa Cruz Wash” area, near the area where the officer was stopped. Nanos said Altamirano was arrested without incident and was in the custody of Tucson police before being taken to jail.

Deputy shooting range: Suspect still at large after shooting of Pima County deputy sheriff

Nanos praised the Tucson Police Department and other law enforcement agencies involved in Altamirano's arrest for their help and cooperation.

Altamirano became the focus of a manhunt on Tuesday after officers were called to a home near the intersection of Jeffrey Road and Camino De Oeste around 11:50 a.m. that day, where an officer recognized Altamirano's vehicle and began a pursuit.

Altamirano and another man, whose identity authorities are not releasing, sped away but then crashed into another vehicle and fled on foot. Nanos said Altamirano fired at the officers from a bush, with one of the bullets striking Officer Augustine Gonzalez in the calf.

Nanos said Gonzalez called for backup before being taken to the hospital with his non-life-threatening injury.

No one else was injured in the shooting and Nanos said the domestic violence victim is safe.

Officers arrested a man and booked him into jail on outstanding warrants. Tucson police, who are leading the investigation, said the suspect's name is not being released at this time.

Nanos said Altamirano faces numerous crimes, including attempted murder. Information on when his next court hearing would take place was not immediately available.

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