Suspect in Arizona Rangers' death killed by Missouri troopers

PHOENIX — A man suspected of killing his mother and stepfather, who were Arizona Rangers, earlier this week died in a shootout with police in Missouri on Tuesday.

Francis Alcantar Chavez, 23, was suspected in the murders of Troy Templeton, 62, and Cynthia Templeton, 53, who were shot inside their northern Arizona home on Sunday.

Details on suspect police shootout in Missouri

Cynthia Templeton’s ex-husband reported the shooting, while returning two children to the home, according to authorities. 

Within hours Snowflake-Taylor police identified Alcantar Chavez as a suspect and put out an alert on his car. 

Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers located Alcantar Chavez’s car in Concordia and pursued him, according to authorities.

Alcantar Chavez ran into a trooper’s vehicle and took off, with law enforcement chasing after him.

During the pursuit, Alcantar Chavez fired at one of the troopers, striking the trooper in his bullet-resistant vest.

Missouri troopers then exchanged gunfire, killing Alcantar Chavez.

Details on death of Arizona Rangers

The Arizona Rangers are a uniformed unit that assists federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the state.

Officers with the Snowflake-Taylor Police Department found the Templetons’ bodies after responding to a call, police said.

The home is in Taylor, a town about 180 miles northeast of downtown Phoenix in Navajo County.

“This is a tragic loss for the community and the Arizona Rangers. We wish to thank police Chief (Robert) Martin and all of the agencies and officers involved in this investigation,” Col. Barry J. Adams, state commander of the Arizona Rangers, said in a statement.