Story highlights Motorist told state police he warned attacker to stop, then shot him

Authorities release name of suspect, woman who died in wreck

(CNN) A good Samaritan being hailed as a hero in Arizona is not quite ready to speak with reporters. He's trying to reconcile taking a life, even when it was the right thing to do, officials said Monday.

The unidentified motorist last Thursday killed a suspect who had wounded and was beating an officer.

"He is a very humble guy," Col. Frank L. Milstead, director of the state Department of Public Safety, said of the man who saved Trooper Ed Andersson from further injury or death. "He is a very spiritual guy and he told me that he believes that God put him there that morning so he could save Trooper Andersson's life."

Shortly before 4:30 a.m., Andersson pulled up to an accident scene on Interstate 10 near Tonopah, about 50 miles west of Phoenix.

Authorities said Leonard-Penuelas-Escobar, who had been the driver in a rollover crash that claimed the life of his passenger, had opened fire on vehicles. He was on the shoulder of the road, holding the fatally injured woman, when Trooper Andersson pulled up to render aid.

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