Executive Summary
- Flagstaff Police are responding to an active shooter situation in the Railroad Springs area.
- Residents near Mark Lane and Shellie Drive have been ordered to shelter in place and lock doors.
- Officers reportedly exchanged gunfire with a suspect who jumped from a roof and remains at large.
- SWAT teams, drones, and helicopters have been deployed to assist in the search.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Law enforcement officers in Flagstaff responded to reports of an active shooter situation in the Railroad Springs area on Wednesday, prompting a shelter-in-place order for local residents.
The Flagstaff Police Department issued an emergency alert advising individuals in the vicinity of Mark Lane and Shellie Drive to remain indoors and secure all entry points. According to official statements released by the department, the situation is concentrated in the neighborhood north of West Route 66, specifically between South Thompson Street and North Mark Lane. Police have explicitly requested the public to avoid the area to facilitate tactical operations.
According to initial police scanner reports, officers exchanged gunfire with a male suspect who was positioned on a rooftop. The subject reportedly jumped from the structure and fled the immediate scene. Law enforcement communications described the suspect as “outstanding” in the area, indicating he had not yet been apprehended at the time of the report.
A significant multi-agency response is underway. Reports indicate that SWAT teams have arrived on the scene, supported by drones and helicopters to assist in the search. Residents have been instructed not to answer their doors and to keep windows locked. At this stage, authorities have not confirmed whether any injuries were sustained by civilians, officers, or the suspect.
Tactical Operations Update
The deployment of specialized units, including SWAT and aviation assets, indicates that law enforcement is treating this as a volatile, high-risk situation involving an armed subject. The primary operational objective appears to be containment within the Railroad Springs subdivision to ensure public safety while a systematic search is conducted. Residents are advised to strictly adhere to the shelter-in-place order until an official ‘all clear’ is issued. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
