Arizona rangers killed in eastern Arizona shooting

TAYLOR, Ariz. – Police are investigating a deadly double shooting in northern Arizona.

What we know:

It happened on June 15 at around 7 p.m. at a home near Center and Main streets in the town of Taylor.

An open door at the home caused a concerned person to call the police to request a welfare check.

“Upon arrival, officers entered the residence and discovered two deceased individuals who had apparent gunshot wounds. A third individual was also located inside the home but sustained no injuries,” the Snowflake-Taylor Police Department said.

The victims were identified as Troy Templeton, 62, and Cynthia Templeton, 53. Both were residents of Taylor.

On June 18, officials with the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office said this shooting is not connected to a shooting that happened on June 17 near Snowflake.

What they’re saying:

“This is a tragic incident that has shaken our community. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of Troy and Cynthia during this incredibly difficult time. The senseless violence that took their lives has no place in our community, and we are committed to finding those responsible and bringing them to justice. Our detectives along with detectives from the AZ Department of Public Safety, Show Low PD, Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and Winslow PD are working tirelessly to piece together what happened and why. While we are still early in the investigation, we want the public to know that we are following several strong leads. We also urge anyone who may have information—no matter how small—to come forward. Your cooperation could be critical in helping us solve this case,” said Police Chief Robert Martin.

Victims were part of Arizona Rangers

On June 16, officials with a group named Arizona Rangers said in a Facebook post that the two victims were a part of their group.

Dig deeper:

Per their website, the Arizona Rangers are “an unpaid, all volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3), law enforcement support and assistance civilian auxiliary in the State of Arizona who work cooperatively at the request of and under the direction, control, and supervision of established federal, state, or local law enforcement officials and officers.”

The group’s website also states that the current Arizona Rangers trace their lineage to a group with the same name that was established in 1901, and disbanded in 1909. It was re-established in its present form in 1957.

The Arizona Rangers is also recognized under state law as an “unpaid, noncommissioned civilian auxiliary” that “do not possess any law enforcement or investigative powers that are not provided or established in law for all citizens of this state.”

What’s next:

The White Mountain Regional Major Incident Investigations Team and the Arizona Department of Public Safety are investigating what happened.

Investigators say there’s no reason to believe there is a threat to the area.

“This is a tragic and disturbing incident, and our agency is committed to seeking justice for those affected. Additional information will be released as it becomes available,” police said.

What you can do:

The police department is asking members of the community to report any suspicious activity to their local police departments.

Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call the Snowflake-Taylor Police Department at 928-536-7500.

Crime and Public SafetyNavajo CountyNews