A Glendale police officer shot an alleged shoplifter who reportedly brandished a gun after stealing from a local hardware store yesterday. Glendale officers responded to calls about the incident near the intersection of 51st and Glendale avenues shortly after the man was said to have exited the store. According to KTAR News, the confrontation occurred around 3:30 p.m. when the first police officer arrived and found the suspect wielding what appeared to be a weapon at a nearby bus stop.

Upon sighting the officer, the suspect allegedly pointed the gun, prompting the officer to discharge his firearm multiple times and wound the shoplifter. In the chaotic moments that followed, additional police units converged on the scene to secure the area, and the suspect was apprehended. "The officer was the only one on scene at the time of the confrontation," Sergeant Randy Stewart relayed in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix.

The injured suspect was promptly given medical attention before being transported to the hospital, and it was reported that the injuries were not life-threatening. The names of those involved have not been released, and the investigation is being led by the Surprise Police Department. As the investigation continues, details surrounding the alleged shoplifting and subsequent shooting remain under scrutiny to ascertain what exactly transpired during the tense encounter.