By Police1 Staff
QUARTZSITE, Ariz. — A man who engaged in multiple shootouts with law enforcement was fatally shot after a pursuit.
A trooper pulled over Marcos Ricardo Ruiz-Zazueta Wednesday for a suspended license plate, AZCentral reported. Rodolfo Ballardo was riding in the passenger seat.
The trooper asked Ruiz-Zazueta to step out of his vehicle. Ballardo stepped out as well and fired shots at the trooper. The trooper returned fire and Ballardo fled.
Border Patrol spotted Ballardo and initiated a pursuit. After a short pursuit, Ballardo abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot.
Ballardo and Border Patrol agents exchanged gunfire. Ballardo broke into a parked 18-wheeler and beat the sleeping driver before fleeing in the stolen big rig. The driver was injured, but was not hospitalized.
During the second pursuit, Ballardo exchanged more gunfire with troopers, Border Patrol and La Paz County deputies. The pursuit ended when he crashed the big rig at a gas station.
He engaged in a final shootout with law enforcement and was seriously injured after he was shot by Border Patrol agents. Ballardo died at a hospital from his injuries. No LEOs were injured.
Ruiz-Zazueta is being held in a La Paz County jail on suspicion of first-degree murder and several drug violations.