PHOENIX - A Phoenix police officer shot while investigating a forgery in progress at a check-cashing store died late Friday night at a hospital, authorities said.
Officer George Cortez, 23, was a two-year veteran of the department, police said.
Police Chief Jack Harris said Cortez was attempting to apprehend a suspect at the check-cashing business in west Phoenix when he was shot.
The male suspect fled the scene in a vehicle and remains at large, police said.
The shooting occurred near the intersection of 83rd Avenue and West Encanto Boulevard around 9 p.m. Police said the suspect may have fled the scene in a black Hyundai car.
A description of the suspect wasn’t available.
Cortez, who was married with two young children, was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and was later pronounced dead, according to authorities.
