A murder suspect was shot dead by Phoenix police after a heated exchange of gunfire on Thursday afternoon in a north Phoenix neighborhood. Officials stated that the ordeal began with a shooting near 33rd and Northern Avenues at around 2 p.m. on May 16, which led to the death of 29-year-old Brandon Russell, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Authorities declared that two men were embroiled in a dispute, culminating in one man shooting Russell who was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital. The accused shooter fled the scene prior to police arrival, eluding initial apprehension. After conducting a search, officers tracked the suspect to an apartment complex near 25th Avenue and Cactus Road, as reported by Arizona's Family news.
According to Phoenix Police Sgt. Robert Scherer in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix, the deadly encounter unfolded when the suspect, upon officers' attempt to arrest him, produced a handgun and "began to fire it in the direction of the officer, striking his police vehicle multiple times." In response, the officer fired back, fatally wounding the gunman who only managed to run a short distance before collapsing.
The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. In the shootout, no police officers sustained injuries. Acting on a sighting from a news chopper, it revealed that a heavy police presence had cordoned off the apartment complex parking lot throughout the evening. This incident, one reflecting the peril our officers face, represents the 26th officer-involved shooting in Maricopa County and the 39th statewide this year, the investigation into it, as confirmed by Phoenix police, remains active and ongoing.
