In the winter of 2014, a domestic violence call in Flagstaff, Arizona, tragically ended the life of 24-year-old male police officer Tyler Jacob Stewart. On December 27th, Stewart, who had been with the Flagstaff Police Department for less than a year, was dispatched to the 800 block of West Clay Avenue to investigate a report of a domestic dispute. The call was made by the girlfriend of Robert W.
Smith, 28, following an argument.
Upon his arrival, Officer Stewart located Smith and began a conversation with him. During their interaction, Stewart asked Smith if he could pat him down for weapons. It was at this moment that the situation escalated with lethal speed. Smith pulled out a handgun and shot Stewart multiple times at close range. Even after the officer fell to the ground, Smith continued to fire.
Despite his grave injuries, Officer Stewart was able to activate his emergency alert. Responding officers found him with critical gunshot wounds and he was rushed to Flagstaff Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Smith walked away from the scene and then fatally shot himself. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation that followed confirmed that Smith was the sole person responsible for Officer Stewart's death. There were no other suspects and no arrests to be made, as the perpetrator had taken his own life. The incident marked a profound loss for the Flagstaff community and the law enforcement family, as Tyler Jacob Stewart became the second officer in the city's history to be killed in the line of duty.
