An armed man in his 40s wearing a ballistic vest was shot and killed by Gilbert Police in a tense confrontation Sunday afternoon. The fatal standoff occurred near Greenfield and Knox roads, culminating in the officers discharging their weapons when the suspect, armed with a handgun and a rifle, ignored their commands and advanced toward them.
Reports of an individual brandishing a gun in the area originally came in around 2:00 p.m. near the intersection of Cooper and Warner roads, ABC15 reported. Despite an initial failed search, police eventually located the suspect, vehicle idling, in a neighboring residential zone west of Higley Road and Loop 202, where the encounter turned deadly.
"He started approaching the officers and officers then went ahead and provided commands, and he did not listen to the commands and the officers responded to the threat. The suspect was shot and was pronounced deceased on scene," said the police, as per a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix. The identity of the man has not been released pending family notification.
Following the shooting, Gilbert Police assured the public that no officers sustained injuries during the incident, reiterating that it was an isolated event and there was no further danger to the community. The department is conducting a full investigation to piece together the events leading up to the fatal shooting, emphasizing there is no threat to the public.
Authorities have not provided further details about what may have precipitated the armed encounter or whether the deceased had any prior interactions with law enforcement. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and further information will be released as it becomes available.
