HOLBROOK AZ- UPDATED DETAILS. Disorderly conduct subject shoots at NCSO deputy and is shot in an exchange of gun fire from The White Mountain Response Team. Area residents were asked to stay in their homes during the event.
On April 6, 2024, at approximately 4:30 PM, the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) was dispatched to the 3300 block of Hilltop Drive in Lakeside for a report of a disorderly subject. Deputies arrived on scene and the suspect immediately started shooting at the deputy and hit the deputy’s vehicle. The deputy was able to retreat and the suspect continued to shoot from inside the residence.
NCSO posted on Facebook, “There is an active police situation at Hilltop Drive and Larson Road in Lakeside. Stay clear of the area and stay in your homes. We will give an update when it is available.”
The White Mountain Special Response Team (WMSRT) was called to assist. There was an exchange of gunfire between WMSRT and the suspect, which resulted in the suspect being struck and subsequently arrested. The suspect was taken to a local hospital and will be flown to a hospital in the Phoenix area for life-threatening injuries.
NCSO posted an update on Facebook, “April 6, 2024 at 7:20 PM. The area is now safe. The suspect is in custody. There are no outstanding suspects. Please stay clear of the area while law enforcement investigates.”
“No law enforcement was injured,” said NCSO.
The Regional Critical Incident Response Team is currently investigating this incident.
Update:
Holbrook, AZ: On April 6, 2024, at approximately 4:30 PM, the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) was dispatched to the 3300 block of Hilltop Drive in Lakeside for a report of a disorderly subject. The deputies that arrived determined that a man and woman had a verbal dispute and decided to separate the parties, as nothing physical was reported to have happened.
At 5:36 PM, NCSO dispatched received a call reporting that what were believed to be shots being fired at the same location as the disorderly call earlier in the day. Two deputies responded and upon arrival began receiving gunfire from the residence. The same residence that they had dealt with earlier. One of the NCSO vehicles was struck by gunfire numerous times from a suspect from inside the residence. The deputies were not hit and were able to move and take a position of cover, taking a defensive position and establishing a perimeter. The suspect continued to fire numerous rounds toward the deputies from inside the residence.
The White Mountain Special Response Team (WMSRT) was called to assist, as well as NCSO Patrol, Criminal Investigations, MCAT Detectives, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, officers from Show Low Police Department, and Pinetop-Lakeside Police Department, and Timber Mesa Fire and Medical personnel. Attempts were made to establish communication and negotiate with the subject with no success. The suspect fired a large caliber rifle at the WMSRT armored vehicle, striking it in the passenger side front windshield. There was an exchange of gunfire between WMSRT and the suspect which resulted in the suspect being struck and injured.
The suspect was ultimately taken into custody and transported via ambulance to Summit Healthcare and eventually, airlifted to a Phoenix-area hospital where he was treated for his non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect was identified as Clayton Ledger (51) of Lakeside. Once released from the hospital, Ledger was booked into the Maricopa County Jail (MCSO). On April 10, 2024, Ledger was extradited from the MCSO Jail and transported to NCSO Jail in Holbrook where he was booked on eight counts of Aggravated Assault, Class 2 dangerous felonies. He is currently being held on a $500,000.00 cash-only bond. At the conclusion of the investigation, there may be additional or different charges added.
