Ed Andersson, Ambushed DPS Officer

Ed Andersson is a Arizona Dept. of Public Safety Trooper.  Trooper Andersson was called to an pedestrian with a gun on Interstate 10 west of   Buckeye, Az.  While enroute he received two other calls west of the Burnt Wells rest area.  Trooper Andersson then came upon a man on his knees holding a woman in his arms next to the slow lane of the freeway. Trooper Andersson parked his vehicle in the emergency lane and contacted the male subject.  The man spoke in Spanish and pointed towards the right of way fence. Trooper Andersson shined his flashlight towards the area and saw an over turned vehicle.  Trooper Andersson returned to his patrol car and requested a medical helicopter for the female. Trooper Andersson moved his patrol can into the slow land put out flares so nobody would hit the injuired subjects.  While Trooper Andersson walked around his drivers side. He noticed the female subject lying on the pavement but the male subject was gone.  Trooper Andersson scanned the emergency lane for the male subject and found him about four feet in front of his patrol car.  Trooper Andersson noticed the man was pointing a gun towards him and when Trooper Andersson turned to draw his weapon. Trooper Andersson saw a flash from the mans gun.   After Andersson saw the flash, he could not draw his weapon to stop the treat.  Although Trooper Andersson did not feel the bullet strike him.  The bullet found the perfect place, in the humerous socket bone, to prevent his arm from drawing his weapon.  While Andersson attempted to use his left arm to draw.  The man rushed him and struck him on the head with his gun.  Both Andersson and male fell to the ground and started to fight. The investigators told Trooper Andersson they fought for approximately 2-3 minutes, covering about 20-30 feet in the slow lane.  The fight continued until a some citizens stopped and assisted Trooper Andersson.  One citizen, Thomas, told the male to stop assaulting Andersson but he did not comply.  Thomas then had no choice but to shot the suspect which ended up dying.  Two other citizens also help Trooper Andersson, Brian who called for help on Andersson portable radio and attended to his head wounds.  The other citizen Heidi called 911 and reteived Andersson first aid bag.  The helicopter Trooper Andersson called for the female subject had to transport him to the hospital.

Trooper Andersson had 2 surgeries while he was in the hospital BUT Trooper will be having plastic surgery on his head sometime very soon and then there is a very good chance  Trooper Andersson will be having a full replacement on his shoulder, Andersson only has 50% of his humerous socket bone, the socket was not replaced at the time of the incident because of infections.  Trooper Andersson continues to see 3 different physical therapist, shoulder doctor, plastic doctor and a psychologist.  

Trooper Andersson wishes to return to his DPS job but the future for that to happen does not look very positive.

Ed's story is so much more then what I wrote above,  Ed and I have been.      married for 24 years and we have 2    grown daughters, plus 2                              grandchildren Aiden 20 months and Aubrey 3 months.  Aiden was born        just 3 weeks before this horrible           shooting happened. We have been a. part of the Tonopah community for     over 25 years, Ed is a party of the Fire
Board,  coaches volleyball,  softball for Tonopah High School and sometimes coaches for Ruth Fisher Elementary if needed.  Our daughters, coach as well.

Being the wife of a  Az State Trooper,  can be exciting but scary!  In the            beginning , I was always scared I          would get that knock on the door.
Over the years, I forgot about the 
Threats on the road for Ed.                        The week this happened, I was having horrible feelings about him going to   work, we were even talking about him taking a day of on that Thursday bcuz I was really upset about him working.  
I was up that evening waiting for Ed's alarm to go off,  to make sure he got up Ed loves that snooze button!  I was on Facebook when a friend sent me an     ad, showing a officer wounded and      asked, if  I would help him,  I relied, of   course, I would, just as I would hope    someone would help my husband!  

Ed got ready to leave then I walked
Ed to the door,  told him,  I love him, he replied, I love you more.  Then he left. 

I texted Ed,  to see if he was ok, he did
Not respond so I figured he was busy. 
I went to bed,  then I woke up to dogs
Going crazy and knocks on the door!  

I truly love this man, with all my heart!
I am proud to say,  I am 
Mrs. Sandra Andersson and
Trooper Ed Andersson wife!