A late-night call about a man reportedly pointing a gun at his daughters ended in tragedy Monday in south Phoenix, leaving the man dead and a police officer wounded near 19th Avenue and Broadway Road. Both were rushed to local hospitals; the officer’s injuries were described as non-life-threatening, and he has since been released. Parts of the surrounding neighborhood remain blocked off as detectives sort out what exactly happened.
Just after 8 p.m., officers responded to a report that a man had aimed a gun at his daughters, according to ABC15 Arizona. When officers arrived, witnesses directed them across the street to a nearby park, where they spotted the suspect. He briefly rode away on a bicycle, then ditched it and ran toward a nearby home. Officers tried using less-lethal tools to slow him down before the situation spiraled into a physical struggle.
Confrontation turns deadly
During that struggle, “the officer and the man fell forward to the ground, causing the man’s gun to fire, striking both of them,” ABC15 Arizona reported. The man was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The officer was treated and released with non-life-threatening wounds. Police have not yet released the man’s name, and investigators say the shooting remains under active review.
Investigation and next steps
Phoenix police say detectives are interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence throughout the neighborhood as they work to piece together the chain of events. The department’s City of Phoenix portal lists contact information for media and members of the public with questions about ongoing investigations.
