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UPDATE: Pinal County Deputy Louie Puroll has been discharged from the hospital after being shot in the desert this afternoon. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said Puroll was found after shootout with suspected drug smugglers. It took over an hour to locate Puroll.

The search is still on going for the suspects and it will continue through the night. Hundreds of officers involved in the massive search in the desert near Interstate 8 and Highway 84.

Deputy Louie Puroll

Babeu also said, while searching for the suspects law enforcement helicopters were fired upon, but no one was injured.

Babeu says the deputy was doing smuggling interdiction work and found bags of marijuana in the desert. He then encountered five suspected illegal immigrants, two armed with rifles, and was shot.

"The fact that they were waiting and ambushed our deputy is very concerning. It points to the fact that what we have said for the past several months, is that, this has reached a critical mass for law enforcement, And we've been calling out to our leaders in the state and national level, we need help," said Babeu.