Police Officer Engages in High-Stakes Life or Death Altercation with Violent Suspect, Shoots Suspect Multiple Times

On March 8th, 2023, the Phoenix Police Department received two calls for service at a business located at the intersection of 27th Avenue and McDowell Road. The first call was from a man who identified himself and requested an officer to meet him at the business to turn himself in. The second call was from an employee who reported that the same man was inside the store yelling and screaming. When the first officer arrived, he entered the business and made contact with the suspect, walking outside with him to talk. However, the suspect quickly became aggressive, pushing the officer and causing him to use his taser. The situation escalated when the suspect kicked the officer, knocking the taser out of his hand, and continued to attack him. As a result, the officer was forced to use his duty weapon to defend himself. The suspect was treated on scene and transported to the hospital in serious but stable condition. Footage from a nearby surveillance camera captured a portion of the altercation, and the officer's body-worn camera also recorded the incident. The officer involved in the incident is assigned to the Maryvale Estrella Mountain Precinct and has approximately 6 years of service with the department.