Deadly Helicopter Crash, Shooting Rock Flagstaff Neighborhood

Pilot and trooper-paramedic killed after hours of gunfire between police and suspect

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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A deadly helicopter crash killed an Arizona Department of Public Safety pilot and paramedic trooper after a chaotic two-hour shooting incident in a Flagstaff neighborhood. The crash occurred shortly after police apprehended the suspected shooter, a 50-year-old man who had opened fire on officers responding to a domestic violence call.

Why it matters

The tragic incident highlights the dangers that law enforcement and first responders can face when responding to volatile situations, as well as the challenges of policing in rural communities. The crash also raises questions about the safety and maintenance of the state's aging helicopter fleet.

The details

Police responded to a domestic violence call around 8:30 p.m. on February 4th in a Flagstaff neighborhood. As officers approached the home, the suspect, Terrell Storey, began shooting at them with a semi-automatic rifle. A two-hour pursuit ensued, with Storey 'hopping from roof to roof' and exchanging gunfire with dozens of officers from the Flagstaff Police Department, Coconino County Sheriff's Office, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). The DPS deployed a Ranger 56 helicopter to provide air support around 10 p.m., but the aircraft crashed just minutes after the suspect was taken into custody, killing pilot Robert Skankey and trooper-paramedic Hunter Bennett.

  • Around 8:30 p.m. on February 4th, police responded to a domestic violence call in a Flagstaff neighborhood.
  • Over the next two hours, a suspect, Terrell Storey, engaged in 'numerous gunbattles' with police, firing 'dozens and dozens of rounds'.
  • Around 10 p.m., a DPS Ranger 56 helicopter arrived to provide air support.
  • At approximately 10:20 p.m., the Ranger 56 helicopter crashed, killing pilot Robert Skankey and trooper-paramedic Hunter Bennett.
  • Around 10:20 p.m., police took the suspect, Terrell Storey, into custody.

The players

Terrell Storey

A 50-year-old man who opened fire on police responding to a domestic violence call in Flagstaff, leading to a two-hour pursuit and shootout.

Robert Skankey

The pilot of the DPS Ranger 56 helicopter who was killed in the crash. Skankey was a Marine veteran and highly decorated pilot who joined DPS in 2021.

Hunter Bennett

The trooper-paramedic on board the DPS Ranger 56 helicopter who was killed in the crash. Bennett joined DPS in 2022 and was transferred to the Western Air Rescue unit in 2024.

Sean Connolly

The Flagstaff Police Chief who described the neighborhood as being 'under siege' during the two-hour shooting incident.

Jeffrey Glover

The Director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety who declined to comment on the cause of the helicopter crash before the investigation was complete.

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What they’re saying

“This was a neighborhood under siege.”

— Sean Connolly, Flagstaff Police Chief (azcentral.com)

“There was shooting from everywhere.”

— Susan Martin, 20-year resident of the area (azcentral.com)

“For them to come overhead in what is a very dark sky community and provide us with some eyes and ears on some things was really important to our safety.”

— Sean Connolly, Flagstaff Police Chief (azcentral.com)

“It would be irresponsible to comment on the cause of the crash before the investigation was complete.”

— Jeffrey Glover, DPS Director (azcentral.com)

What’s next

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the helicopter crash. Terrell Storey will be booked into the Coconino County Jail upon release from the hospital.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the dangers that law enforcement and first responders can face when responding to volatile situations, as well as the challenges of policing in rural communities. It also raises important questions about the safety and maintenance of the state's aging helicopter fleet, which will need to be addressed to prevent similar tragedies in the future.