Incident
Police Officer Jeff Moritz was shot and killed after responding to a noise complaint in an upscale neighborhood during the early morning hours.
Several residents had called the police to report that a pickup truck was repeatedly being driven up and down the street with loud music emanating from the truck. Officer Moritz responded and stopped the pickup truck. Several minutes later, he made an emergency broadcast that he had been shot. A total of five shots were fired at Officer Moritz from a .22 caliber handgun.
Several neighbors administered CPR and Officer Moritz was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was wearing a bulletproof vest but one round struck him in the left shoulder, severing an artery. Despite being wounded, Officer Moritz was able to return fire at the suspect.
The 17-year-old suspect fled the scene but was identified. He was later arrested after a short foot pursuit. The suspect was deemed competent to stand trial and was convicted of first degree murder on September 3, 2003. The suspect was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. On January 22, 2019, he was ordered freed or retried because evidence of his mental illness was withheld at his trial.
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BO-US-AZ-FBC93FFF- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Moritz gave the Flagstaff Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Flagstaff community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Moritz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Jeff Adam Moritz is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Flagstaff Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jeff Adam Moritz's cause is highlighted.
How Jeff Adam Moritz Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jeff Adam Moritz is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Flagstaff Police Department are honored on badge.nw.

