Arizona grand jury indicts man on felony murder charges after deadly helicopter crash during Flagstaff shootout
A Coconino County grand jury has indicted 50-year-old Terrell Storey on two counts of first-degree felony murder and dozens of additional charges following a violent confrontation in Flagstaff that ended with a state helicopter crash and the deaths of two public safety personnel.
According to authorities, the events unfolded on the night of Feb. 4 after officers responded to a domestic violence call in a residential neighborhood. Flagstaff Police Chief Sean Connolly said officers were speaking with a victim in the front yard when Storey allegedly opened fire from the rear of the home using a semiautomatic rifle.
What began as a domestic violence response escalated into a prolonged exchange of gunfire lasting nearly two hours.
Connolly said the suspect moved across rooftops in the neighborhood while firing at officers, creating what officials described as an extended and dangerous standoff.
The helicopter crash during the standoff
At the same time, a helicopter operated by the Arizona Department of Public Safety was assisting officers on the ground. Public flight-path data shows the aircraft was returning toward the scene and had slowed to nearly a hover roughly 1,000 feet above a hilltop before it went down.
Trooper paramedic Hunter Bennett, 28, and pilot Robert Skankey, 61, were killed in the crash.
The indictment does not state whether Storey fired at the helicopter. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash. NTSB spokesperson Peter Knudson said a preliminary report is expected within 30 days of the accident, while a final determination of probable cause could take one to two years.
Under Arizona law, felony murder charges may be filed when a death occurs “in the course of and in furtherance of” another felony offense.
Sixty counts filed as case moves toward arraignment
Prosecutors filed a total of 60 criminal counts against Storey, including the two felony murder charges tied to the deaths of Bennett and Skankey. The indictment also lists aggravated assault, burglary, disorderly conduct and endangerment among the charges. It identifies 25 responding law enforcement officers and residents in nearby homes as victims.
Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker said he expects Storey to be arraigned on Feb. 23 and stated his office is “committed to pursuing this case with the diligence and care it requires.” He added that officials’ hearts remain with the families of the two men who died.
Public Defender Jennifer Stock expressed sympathy for the victims’ families and said she is awaiting the outcome of the NTSB investigation.
Storey was hospitalized for gunshot wounds that authorities described as not life-threatening. He remains in custody on a $5 million bond, according to Jon Paxton of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office.
Skankey, a Kingman resident, joined the Arizona Department of Public Safety in May 2021 after previously serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was married and had four children. Bennett graduated with honors from Arizona State University and was the top graduate of his 2023 Arizona Law Enforcement Academy class. He transferred to an air rescue unit in 2024 and married his high school sweetheart months later.
The case now moves forward amid an ongoing federal aviation investigation, with prosecutors preparing to pursue charges tied to one of the most serious public safety incidents in the region this year.
