Would-Be Cop Killer Convicted on All Charges, Faces Life After Harrowing 2022 Shootout

Michael Joseph Zapata, 52, has pleaded guilty to nine felony charges connected to a police shooting incident two years ago. His sentencing is set for December 19, 2024, as he seeks to avoid a jury trial in Pinal County Superior Court.

The charges against Zapata include five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, along with a violent kidnapping charge, disfiguring a person, illegal gun possession, and fleeing from authorities. Originally scheduled for trial on September 10, Zapata changed his plea on August 21.

Since the start of this protracted legal battle, which will span 28 months, Zapata has replaced his legal counsel three times. The case began with a grand jury indictment on August 17, 2022, followed by a reindictment on July 22 with added aggravating factors.

The incident that led to his arrest began when Maricopa police responded to reports of a knife attack in Homestead. A victim informed officers that Zapata had stabbed and burned him, necessitating hospitalization, as reported by a joint release from the Maricopa Police Department and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.

Following the attack, Zapata fled the scene in his vehicle, prompting a police pursuit. An eyewitness, John Potter, recounted seeing Zapata’s car speeding through the intersection of Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and Porter Road while police pursued him. “The cops were right behind him,” Potter stated.

Upon crashing at the intersection, Zapata allegedly fired at the officers through his window. In response, police returned fire, with reports indicating at least 27 bullet holes found in his car. Monitoring the scene, authorities confirmed that another driver involved in the crash was hospitalized but later released.

Remarkably, Zapata sustained only minor injuries during the exchange and was subsequently treated at a hospital before being booked into the Pinal County jail.

Judge Danielle Harris of the Pinal County Superior Court will deliver the sentence. Under Arizona law, Zapata could face a potential life sentence, as he is not eligible for probation. His criminal history is extensive, dating back to Colorado in 2007, with at least 10 arrests recorded in the Maricopa and Phoenix areas.