Police have been hunting the gunman who they believe is responsible for killing six people and wounding 17 others, mostly pedestrians and cyclists, in Phoenix, Arizona, since May 2005.

The gunman, who usually strikes late at night, most recently killed a 22 year-old woman on Sunday as she walked from her parents' home to her boyfriend's.

Neighbours heard the shot that killed Robin Blasnek and ran outside to help her at 11.15pm, but she soon lost consciousness and later died at hospital.

Today police arrested two men in connection with the shootings. About 200 officers have been involved in the investigation.

Officials from several agencies searched an estate in the suburb of Mesa this morning. Some used flashlights to peer through the windows of a car, which was later removed.

Television footage of the search showed police officers carrying what appeared to be several rifles or shotguns away from a flat.

“I hope they got him,” said Caroll Roberts, whose 19-year-old son was shot in the torso last month and survived after four hours of surgery. “I want to shoot him in the stomach to see how he’d like it, like he did my son.”

Sergeant Andy Hill said: “We do have two suspects in custody. They’re at Phoenix Police headquarters in the serial shooter case. A search warrant was served in Mesa last night.”

The city has been gripped with fear and paranoia amid reports that as well as the sniper, another serial killer has struck in recent months.

The Baseline Killer is responsible for killing seven women and one man since last September, and sexually assaulting 11 women and girls in the past year.

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