Arizona,ย – Northbound State Route 87 reopened after a hit-and-run incident followed by a shooting. The highway was closed for approximately five hours as authorities actively searched for the suspect.
On January 16, 2025, the stretch of Northbound State Route 87, which runs from Gilbert Road to just south of Shea Boulevard near Fountain Hills and falls within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, was blocked around noon. The road finally reopened at about 5 p.m., while the southbound lanes remained unaffected during the situation.
So, what triggered the closure of State Route 87? The Arizona Department of Public Safety reported that it all began with a hit-and-run accident on the Loop 202 Pima Freeway close to Scottsdale Road. Following the initial collision, the other driver managed to follow the hit-and-run vehicle all the way to SR 87, also known as the Beeline Highway.
In a concerning turn of events, someone from the suspect’s vehicle opened fire at the victim near McDowell Road. Thankfully, no one was injured in this shooting incident, as per DPS’s statement. The suspect vehicle then continued south, eventually stopping approximately a mile south of Shea Boulevard. At that point, the occupants abandoned the vehicle and fled into the nearby desert on foot, prompting authorities to close the highway to conduct a thorough search for the suspects.
