PHX Reporter

Nicholas Cowan has been sentenced to 68 years in prison for shooting a Phoenix police officer, an incident that initiated a three-day manhunt. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced the sentence today.

In April 2022, two officers responded to a call from Cowan's girlfriend at a gas station near Cave Creek and Beardsley Roads. She reported that Cowan was suicidal and had threatened violence if she contacted law enforcement. She also informed the officers of an assault by Cowan the previous day.

Body camera footage shows Cowan arriving at the gas station and firing 11 shots through his vehicle's open passenger-side window, hitting one officer in the stomach. The other officer returned fire as Cowan fled. The girlfriend was unharmed.

Cowan was apprehended in Scottsdale following a standoff after three days on the run.

A jury convicted Cowan of multiple felonies, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, drive-by shooting, and aggravated assault.

“Make no mistake, this defendant had every intention of killing these officers when he opened fire,” said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “My office stands behind our members of law enforcement and will vigorously prosecute anyone who means to do them harm. This incident could have ended in the death of an officer, and I’m thankful everyone survived.”

Cowan is also awaiting sentencing for another incident where he assaulted a detention officer at the 4th Avenue Jail in December 2023. He was found guilty on charges including aggravated assault, with sentencing scheduled for March 21, 2025.