Arizona Troopers Return Fire Killing Armed Suspect in Flagstaff

Incident Status:

Active

Incident Date:

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Department Report Number:

#AZ1900033086

Preliminary Information:

This log was updated on Friday, January 25, 2019, at 5:45 p.m.

Update:

The Arizona Department of Public Safety was notified by the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office that suspect Preston Oszust of Flagstaff, has died.

End update.

The following is preliminary information:

Flagstaff, Ariz. – On January 23, 2019, at 7:42 p.m., an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) trooper attempted to stop a black 1990 Isuzu Amigo SUV for a traffic violation. The driver initially yielded and stopped in the Maverick gas station on Kaibab Lane. After the trooper exited his patrol car, the driver fled the scene at a high-rate of speed in the SUV.

The suspect drove into a residential area nearby where he and a passenger abandoned the SUV and fled on foot. The trooper did not give chase; instead, he coordinated a search perimeter. Additional troopers, Flagstaff Police Department officers and an AZDPS Ranger helicopter crew assisted in a search of the suspects for over an hour.

Around 8:44 p.m., a homeowner called 911 and reported having seen the suspects in the area. Less than 10 minutes later, the suspects were located in front of a residence on Topeka Avenue. As troopers approached both suspects, 20-year-old Marcus Gishal, of Flagstaff, pointed a handgun towards the troopers and fired, striking one of them in the left hand. Troopers then returned fire and struck Gishal; he was pronounced deceased on scene. The second suspect, identified as 20-year-old Preston Oszust, of Flagstaff, was also struck by gunfire. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of critical injuries.

Surveillance Video of Suspects

The injured trooper was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for his gunshot wound and later released.

Three other troopers were involved in the shooting; however, they were uninjured. One trooper is a five-year veteran of the Department; the other two are both two-year veterans.

Marcus Gishal and Preston Oszust both have a history of arrests. Oszust has an active felony warrant for a probation violation.

According to AZDPS arrest records, this is not the first contact troopers have had with Marcus Gishal. On November 6, 2017, a trooper encountered Gishal during a traffic stop in the Flagstaff area. As the trooper attempted to arrest Gishal on a drug-related charge, he resisted, and a fight ensued. After several minutes, the trooper was able to take Gishal into custody. Gishal had a handgun in his waistband as well as marijuana and dangerous drugs for sale in his possession.