At approximately 12 p.m. on Friday, April 4, 2025, a uniformed Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) State Trooper was on duty in a fully marked patrol vehicle, patrolling in the area of westbound Interstate 10 near Park Avenue in Tucson. The trooper observed a female, later identified as 41-year-old Tucson resident Robin Rae Budelli, walking on the right shoulder of the interstate.  I-10 is a controlled access highway and pedestrians are restricted in this area. The trooper stopped the patrol vehicle to make contact with Budelli.

Shortly after the trooper exited the vehicle, Budelli pulled a large butcher-style knife out of her purse, raised it above her head, and charged at the trooper while the trooper was approaching. The trooper subsequently shot the assailant, ending the attack. The trooper immediately called for emergency medical services to respond and began rendering life-saving measures until additional assistance arrived.

Budelli was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

The State Trooper was not injured.

The AZDPS Major Incident Division is investigating this incident.

Video from this incident is available here: https://youtu.be/nkxIxjYOiDY

--Update: Thursday, April 3, 2025--

The injured trooper was released from the hospital on Wednesday night and is recuperating at home.

The driver of the Dodge Ram has been identified as Andrii Mykhailivk of Brooklyn, New York.

This investigation is ongoing.

--Preliminary Information: Wednesday, April 2, 2025--

At approximately 7:30 p.m. today, April 2, 2025, an AZDPS Highway Patrol State Trooper was parked on the right shoulder of westbound Interstate 10 in the area of milepost 117 in Buckeye. The trooper was finishing paperwork from a non-injury collision report he had just taken and was parked approximately 20 feet off the highway on the dirt shoulder. A white Dodge Ram 3500 truck, towing a vehicle trailer with three vehicles on board, traveled off right and off the highway and collided with the trooper’s vehicle at a significant speed. As a result of the collision, the trooper’s vehicle was pushed further off right approximately 60 feet.

The trooper was transported to a hospital with possible head injuries and is currently being evaluated to determine the extent of his injuries.

The driver of the Dodge Ram was the only occupant of the at-fault vehicle and was uninjured; however, the driver has been arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol. He is currently being processed for DUI and related felony charges.