A police shooting outside an IHOP in Phoenix has left a man dead after the officers responded to a trespassing call in the early hours of Tuesday morning. "When officers were en route, the call did get upgraded to a man cutting himself inside the establishment," Sgt. Lorraine Fernandez stated, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
As reported by AZCentral, the Phoenix Police Department indicated that the individual ignored the officers' orders and continued walking towards them even after an attempt was made to use less-than-lethal force. The engagement led to an officer firing their rifle at the man, which resulted in his later demise at a hospital due to the injuries sustained.
The incident, which unfolded near 19th and Northern Avenues, is now the sixth officer-involved shooting involving Phoenix Police this year. "The officer gave commands and attempted to deescalate the situation. However, the man started to walk towards him and revealed he was holding a large hatchet," Sgt. Lorraine Fernandez expounded in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix. Despite the efforts to retreat and de-escalate, the situation culminated in the police shooting.
No officers were injured during the incident. The man's identity has yet to be disclosed, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety will investigate the shooting. Fernandez confirmed, as per the report by AZCentral, that only one officer fired their duty weapon. Northern Avenue was closed off in both directions between 19th and 21st Avenues to facilitate the investigation.
