A man who murdered his mother and stepfather in Arizona fled to Missouri and shot at a state trooper before being killed, police said.
Francis Alcantar Chavez, 23, was wanted for the murders of Cynthia Templeton, 53, and Troy Templeton, 62, who were discovered dead in their home on Center Street in Taylor, Arizona, on Sunday, allegedly from gunshots.
Cynthia Templeton’s ex-husband discovered the bodies while returning two children to their home, the Snowflake-Taylor Police Department said at a news conference on Wednesday.
Chavez was quickly identified as a suspect, and police “issued a nationwide stop and hold” order for him and his vehicle on Tuesday.
It appears that he traveled nearly 1,000 miles east to Concordia, Missouri. The city’s police department discovered him in that jurisdiction around 6 p.m. that evening, but he escaped.
About two hours later, Missouri State Troopers discovered Chavez’s motorcycle, and they believe he crashed into one of their vehicles and fled.
An officer arrived, and Chavez is said to have fired a gun at him, striking him in his bulletproof vest.
The trooper shot back, killing Chavez. According to police, the injured law enforcement agent was transported to a nearby hospital and is expected to recover fully.
“This is a tragic incident that has shaken our community,” Snowflake-Taylor Police Chief Robert Martin told KSHB. “Our hearts to go out to the loved ones of Troy and Cynthia during this incredibly difficult time.”
The Templetons were members of the Arizona Rangers, “a uniformed, law enforcement auxiliary with a rich history dating back to the beginning of the twentieth century,” according to Phoenix-based ABC affiliate KNXV.
According to AZFamily, State Commander Col. Barry J. Adams stated that the couple met and fell in love while serving in the civilian law enforcement force. Cynthia Templeton’s sister stated that the couple had been married for about a year.
