Tolleson Police Arrest Truck Driver After Security Guard Is Shot During Overnight Dispute At Love’s Truck Stop

What happened

A shooting at a Love’s Travel Stop in Tolleson, Arizona left a security guard hospitalized and led to the arrest of a truck driver on aggravated assault allegations. Police responded to reports of gunfire at the truck stop near 83rd Avenue and Roosevelt Street, just south of Interstate 10, at about 11 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026.

Officers located a security guard suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. The guard was taken to a hospital with injuries described by police as serious but not life-threatening.

Sequence described by investigators

Authorities said the confrontation began when the security guard approached a truck driver who was parked incorrectly. During the encounter, the guard used pepper spray on the driver. Police said the driver then fired a shot that struck the guard’s leg.

Police also said the security guard discharged his firearm in response, with rounds hitting the truck but not the driver.

• Location: Love’s Travel Stop near 83rd Avenue and Roosevelt Street, Tolleson
• Time reported: about 11 p.m., Monday, February 23, 2026
• Injury: security guard shot in the leg; hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries
• Arrest: truck driver taken into custody at the scene area

Arrest and potential charges

Police identified the driver as 63-year-old Donald Hayes and said officers arrested him as he attempted to leave the area in his truck. Authorities indicated Hayes would face aggravated assault charges.

What remains unclear

Investigators have not released additional details about what prompted the escalation beyond the parking-related contact and the reported use of pepper spray. Police have not announced any additional suspects, and early statements indicated there were no outstanding suspects connected to the incident.

The case remains under investigation, with police focusing on the actions taken during the encounter and the exchange of gunfire that followed.

Broader context

Truck stops along major interstate corridors routinely handle disputes involving parking and access, which can draw in private security and law enforcement. In this incident, the reported sequence underscores how quickly a routine enforcement interaction can become a criminal investigation when weapons are introduced.