Man Commits Murder-Suicide During Traffic Stop in Kingman, Arizona

Mohave County, Arizona — On Sunday, February 2, 2020, at 1:49 PM, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) trooper conducted a traffic stop on an older model pickup in the city of Kingman. During the course of the traffic stop, the trooper learned the driver and passenger had felony warrants with nationwide extradition for illegal drugs out of Colorado.  
 
When the trooper returned to the pickup, the driver displayed a handgun and shot the female passenger. As a result of the driver’s actions, the trooper drew and fired his duty weapon at the driver in an attempt to stop the deadly threat. As the trooper fired, the driver simultaneously turned the gun on himself and fired.
 
The driver and passenger were declared deceased on scene.
 
The deceased driver was identified as 57-year-old Kyle Don Axtell of Kingman.
 
The passenger was identified as 50-year-old Kelly Susanne Nickolson.
 
The trooper was not injured.
 
This remains an active investigation.