A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a deputy at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office substation in Avondale.

Clinton Hurley was arrested on felony warrant on Oct. 9, 2021, and taken to the substation. Deputy Juan “Johnny” Ruiz took off Hurley’s handcuffs and put him in a cell, according to a release from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

“Body camera video shows Hurley becoming combative and attacking Deputy Ruiz,” the release stated.

“During the struggle, Hurley hit Deputy Ruiz several times with the blunt end of a pair of medical shears and punched him repeatedly as the deputy was lying on the floor.”

Ruiz died days later at a hospital.

Hurley escaped using Ruiz’s keys and patrol car. He then stole the deputy’s second gun from the vehicle. He used the gun to try to carjack a truck before stealing a car from another victim, authorities said.

He was captured later that night in Tonopah after firing shots at a family outside a home and being shot by the homeowner.

“We cannot bring him back…so, I just hope this puts an end to our grief,” Ruiz’s brother said in court.

The county release also said that he added “that the hate he and his family have felt since then is no longer worth it.”

Hurley pleaded guilty to all 16 charges against him, according to the MCAO.

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