An armed man was fatally shot by Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies during a high-risk warrant execution in Mesa, officials confirmed.
Deputies, involved in the incident that unfolded early Thursday morning around 3 a.m. near University Drive and Ellsworth Road, were searching for a suspect described as "armed and dangerous," ABC15 reported. As deputies attempted to serve the warrant, they were reportedly met with gunfire from the suspect who then holed up in a residence.
The man later emerged from the home while brandishing a rifle and confronted three SWAT team members. It was then that officers opened fire, killing the suspect at the scene, as detailed by AZFamily.com. The identity of the individual has not been released pending notification of next of kin. No members of law enforcement were injured in the exchange.
This shooting marks the 15th of its kind involving officers in Maricopa County and the 21st statewide this year, suggesting an uptick in violent clashes between suspects and law enforcement. The investigation is currently ongoing, with authorities not yet divulging additional details.
