Show Low police officer fatally shot; suspect dead

A Show Low police officer has died after being shot by a suspect while responding to a disturbance call.

The Show Low Police Department says 50-year-old Darrin Reed, a police officer with the the Show Low Police Department since 2006, was shot while responding to the disturbance call at 12:03 p.m. on Tuesday.

Investigators say the suspect, identified as Daniel Erickson, pulled out a gun, shot Officer Reed and fled the scene. Officer Reed was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died.

Erickson barricaded himself inside a nearby cabin with a 15-year-old hostage and refused to surrender. During a standoff with Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers and SWAT team members, Erickson sporadically fired shots at officers.

After six-and-a-half hours of negotiations, officers returned fire and killed Erickson. The 15-year-old hostage was safely recovered.

Officer Reed served with the Show Low Police Department for 10 years and prior to that, he was a member of the Navajo County Sheriff's Office.

Officer Reed is survived by his wife, son and daughter.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

A candlelight vigil is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on November 9th in honor of Officer Reed at the Downtown Festival Marketplace - 1034 E. Deuce of Clubs.