Pinal County Sheriff’s Office deputies shot and killed a 46-year-old Apache Junction woman Thursday night after authorities said she fired at least one shot that struck the windshield of a patrol vehicle.

Melissa Mills died Thursday night at the scene of the shooting near North Gantzel Road and East Combs Road. Mills was previously arrested in May 2024 for unlawful flight, driving on a suspended license, possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a release from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities said a Pinal County Sheriff’s Office sergeant tried to stop a vehicle about 7:50 p.m. July 17 near the intersection of Gantzel Road and Pecan Creek Drive.

The driver refused to pull over, prompting a pursuit.

“During the chase, the suspect intentionally collided with the sergeant’s vehicle, committing an aggravated assault just north of Combs Road,” the release stated.

The pursuit took six minutes, officials said, and during it “the suspect drove recklessly down a main thoroughfare near a shopping plaza and neighborhoods endangering the public.”

The suspect’s vehicle ended up in a ditch near North Gantzel Road and East Combs Road, where the deputy-involved shooting occurred.

A man, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was detained and taken to a Valley hospital with minor injuries, officials said. He was booked into the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office jail on a traffic warrant from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

One deputy sustained injuries from glass fragments during the exchange of gunfire and was also taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He has been released.

Per standard procedure, the involved sergeant and deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave, according to the PCSO release.