A man, now dead, led police on a high-speed chase, culminating in an officer-involved shooting. The Phoenix Police Department released a Critical Incident Briefing video detailing the incident that unfolded around 10:45 p.m. near 27th Avenue and Van Buren Street.
The disaster began when a brown vehicle was seen speeding away from a business parking lot. Although the initial patrol officers lost sight of the suspect, others continued the chase, eventually backed by a police helicopter. The driver's desperate bid for escape saw him attempting to carjack multiple vehicles at gunpoint, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
This dangerous chase reached its climax at the intersection of 60th Lane and McDowell Road. The armed man, futile in his carjacking attempts, found himself confronted by police. It is here that officers claim the suspect pointed his gun at them, prompting a fatal exchange of gunfire. The suspect, injured in the shootout, was administered medical aid but later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
Recovering a gun from the scene, investigators confirmed that the suspect discharged his weapon during the incident. Thankfully, no officers or civilians were caught in the literal crossfire. The vehicle the suspect drove turned out to be stolen, intensifying the theft to armed robbery and ultimately to tragedy. The involved officer, a 20-year Phoenix Police Department vet of the Maryvale Estrella Mountain Precinct, was unharmed.
The aftermath of this violent chase is now undergoing rigorous investigation. Both a criminal investigation, to be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, and an administrative investigation, seek to unravel the exact nature of this fatal shooting. As of now, "Conclusions about whether the actions of the officers are consistent with department policy and the law will not be made until all facts are known and the investigation is complete," the Department stated.
