Authorities have identified the man who was shot and killed by a U.S. Forest Service officer near Payson on Friday.
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The Coconino County Sheriff's Office said 66-year-old Courtney James VanRiper, also spelled Van Ripper, was shot after attacking the officer in the Blue Ridge area.
VanRiper's last known address was Oklahoma City, OK, and authorities believe at some point he lived in Wyoming. Detectives have not been able to reach his family.
The U.S. Forest Service said the officer contacted VanRiper who was camping in the forest near the junction of Highway 260 and State Route 87 off of Forest Service Road 616.
VanRiper sprayed bear repellant in the officer's face and while the officer had impaired vision, he fired multiple rounds at VanRiper, striking him twice, Coconino County Sheriff's Office said.
VanRiper was taken to Payson Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
The Forest Service said their officer, 34-year-old Douglas Pederson, was not hurt. Pederson has worked with the Forest Service for 15 years and has been a U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer for the last two years.
Detectives said VanRiper has an outstanding felony warrant for a probation violation out of the Yavapai County Superior Court. The vehicle VanRiper had was reported stolen out of Flagstaff and he also had a stolen handgun, according to the Coconino County Sheriff's Office.
The Coconino County Sheriff's Office and the FBI are both investigating the shooting
