YCSO Deputies Fatally Shoot A Man, After He Opens Fire On Them In Black Canyon City Friday Night

A man was fatally shot after he opened fire on Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies Friday night in Black Canyon City. The sheriff’s office received a 9-1-1 call from a woman on School House Road at around 10:30 p.m., saying her husband was intoxicated and had fired a shot into the ceiling of the house to get her attention. She told deputies that her husband, Thomas Henzler, knew law enforcement would be called, so he began to set up an ambush on the only access point of the house, which was a bridge with a remote only gate. The wife kept the 9-1-1 operator on the phone without Henzler knowing about it, so she could keep deputies updated. She says Henzler was grabbing ammunition and moving it to the bridge. Dispatchers heard Henzler in the background, telling his wife that he would open fire on deputies to “do a suicide by cop.” Deputies and State Troopers arrived at the scene and called for a tactical team after learning Henzler was trying to force his wife to do the ambush with him. After a while, the wife left the house by herself and opened the gate as Henzler was still inside. About an hour later Henzler exited the house and walked toward deputies. As he got closer, he opened fire in which deputies returned fire. Henzler was shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no injuries to law enforcement officials. DPS is investigating the incident.