Sheriff Joe Arpaio responds to shot jail officer: Issue every deputy in the county an AR-15 (VIDEO)

An Arizona jail officer was shot and killed in his driveway, leading to a frantic search of the suspect, in Maricopa County Thursday.

Jail Officer Jorge Vargas.

Jail Officer Jorge Vargas.

Jorge Vargas, an 8-year veteran of the Maricopa County Jail, was murdered while working on his truck at 4 a.m. before going to work. Multiple gunshots rung out, breaking the otherwise peaceful morning silence. Neighbors rushed to the 27-year-old’s aid, only to find him lying next his truck.

Responding officers searched on foot and by air for the suspect, but were unable to locate him.

Merely hours after the incident occurred, Sheriff Joe Arpaio answered by announcing to his deputies that he was issuing each and every one of them an AR-15, decreeing they were to carry a firearm both on and off duty.

“We live in a violent society,” Arpaio said. And he wants his officers to have “enough firepower to fight back.”

Vargas, who was married and the father to a young boy, passed away approximately an hour after being shot, Phoenix Police Sgt. Trent Crump said.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio shows off his 400 new AR-15's

Sheriff Joe Arpaio shows off his 400 new AR-15’s

Officers respond to the scene where jail officer Jorge Vargas was shot

Officers respond to the scene where jail officer Jorge Vargas was shot.

[DailyMail.co.uk]

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