Sheriff’s Report on the Cooper Shooting

FLI Newswire) Eager Arizona – On Nov 5, 2001 at11:40pm, Apache County Sheriff’s deputies attempted toserve an arrest warrant on a known felon, WilliamMilton Cooper, (58 years of age) at his residencelocated at 96 North Clearview Circle in Eagar AZ.Cooper was considered armed and dangerous. During theexecution of this warrant, Cooper was fatally shot bydeputies after he shot and struck a sheriffs deputy.

Members of the Apache County Sheriffs Office deployedseveral deputies in the area adjacent to Cooper”s homein an attempt to draw him from his residence to servean arrest warrant. After leaving his residence in hisvehicle, Cooper confronted plainclothes deputies ashort distance away. As Cooper drove back to hisresidence, Sheriffs deputies attempted to stop himusing a fully marked patrol vehicle to block theroadway. Cooper refused to stop or comply with verbalorders issued by deputies. Cooper drove around thepatrol vehicle off the roadway and attempted to runover a sergeant before heading back to his residence.Cooper was followed a short distance to the front ofhis residence whom he was again confronted byuniformed deputies. After refusing once again tocomply with orders from deputies, Cooper exited hisvehicle and ran toward his house, firing shots from ahandgun towards deputies. Deputy Robert Marinez of theApache County Sheriff’s Office was struck in the headby at least one round. Deputies returned fire suwngand fatally wounding Cooper.

Deputy Marinez was transported by ground ambulance toThe White Mountain Regional Medical Center and thenflown to a Trauma Unit in Phoenix. Deputy Marinez waslast reported to be in critical condition.

Deputy Marinez has served as a law enforcement officerfor 4 years and was serving as a tactical officer atthe time of the shooting. His experience also includespatrol and criminal investigation. Deputy Marinez is40 years old and has served as a United States Marineduring Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.Deputy Marinez is married with three children.

Cooper threatened to kill law enforcement personneland made those threats known through the use of hisweb site, radio station and personal messages. Cooperhas a history of harassing and threatening localresidents with deadly force. He recently was chargedwith aggravated assault and endangerment. Cooper wasalso wanted by the United Stated Marshal’s Office forunrelated felony charges.

Following the shooting, the scene was secured byofficers from the Eagar Police Department and ApacheCounty Sheriff’s Deputies. The Arizona Department ofPublic Safety’s Special Investigations Unit isconducting a criminal investigation into the shootingat the request of the Eagar Police Department and theApache County SherifFs Office. DPS Special OperationsUnits were called to the scene to clew the residenceof any potential hazards that may exist.

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