Phoenix Officer Zane Coolidge died Friday, days after he was shot while chasing after a vehicle theft suspect.City of Phoenix
A Phoenix police officer has died just days after he was shot multiple times by a suspected car thief earlier this week.
Officer Zane Coolidge died from his injuries after spending three days in the hospital. Officer Coolidge was a five-year veteran of the department.
He is survived by his wife and baby daughter, AZFamily reports.
On Sept. 3, Officer Coolidge and Officer Matthew Haney were responding to reports of a suspect, identified by law enforcement as 41-year-old Saul Bal, breaking into a vehicle. A chase ensued between the two officers and Bal when they were suddenly “met with gunfire,” authorities said.
Officers Coolidge and Haney were both shot and rushed to Banner University Medical Center. Officer Coolidge had been fighting for his life in the hospital up until his death.
Bal was arrested after the shooting and had a court appearance on Saturday, where he’s now facing an upgraded charge of first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer. Bal did not say anything and invoked his right to remain silent. His cash bond is still set at $2 million, and there is a chance he could face the death penalty.
Officer Haney was released from the hospital on Wednesday evening and is recovering at home. Initially, the Phoenix Police Department said Officer Haney’s ballistic vest saved his life. In a one-on-one interview Saturday, Chief Sullivan said Haney was hit by either a bullet or shrapnel that lodged in his upper torso. It is unclear if he will need additional surgery.
