Blue Alert issued as search for driver continued.

A 17-year-old was arrested after firing at Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers Thursday morning in Phoenix, the department said.

DPS personnel were in a vehicle near 37th Avenue and Portland Street just before 9 a.m., department spokesman Bart Graves said.

A driver in a silver Infiniti with custom wheels and temporary plates pulled up alongside the troopers’ vehicle and honked the horn, at which point the passenger got out of the Infiniti and shot an assault rifle at the troopers, he said.

The troopers got out of their vehicle and returned fire, Graves said. The driver fled, leaving the shooter at the scene.

Officials arrested the male 17-year-old and recovered the gun from the scene.

It was unknown how many gunshots were fired.

Following the shooting, the department issued a Blue Alert, which is deployed following a “violent attack upon a law enforcement officer.”

Members of the public are asked to call 911 if they spot the vehicle or have any information.

In a tweet, DPS officials described the vehicle as a silver 2008-2013 Infinity model G-37 with custom wheels. It has a temporary plate and appears to have chipped paint below the license plate area, they said.

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8529.  Follow her on Twitter @brieannafrank. 

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