Phoenix Police Department, Arizona
End of Watch: Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 4 years, 6 months
Badge Number: 8474
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 26, 2010
Weapon Used: Rifle; Automatic
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Officer Travis Murphy was shot and killed when he confronted a suspect who had fled the scene of a shots fired call earlier in the night.
Officers in a neighbouring precinct responded to a report of shots fired. When they arrived, the perpetrator had fled, but they transmitted a description of the suspect's vehicle over their department radio. Several minutes later, dispatchers received reports that a man was seen attempting to hide a vehicle under a tarp at a vacant home. Officer Murphy, along with several officers, responded to the scene and started searching for the man on foot.
Officer Murphy encountered the suspect at 1920 W. Fairmount Avenue and was shot 10 times in the legs and lower abdomen. Other officers immediately placed him in a patrol car and took him to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds a short time later.
The suspect was taken into custody after being found hiding in a nearby shed. On November 18, 2015, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life.
Officer Murphy had served with the Phoenix Police Department for four and a half years. He is survived by his wife, 2-year-old daughter, 2-week-old son, mother, step-father, and step-brother.