The family of Victor Altamirano has filed a federal civil-rights and wrongful-death lawsuit, accusing Phoenix police of using excessive force when officers shot him during a mental-health call on October 2, 2025. Altamirano, 58, was taken to a hospital after officers responded to a south Phoenix home and later died, according to the family.
According to ABC15, the complaint alleges that instead of attempting real de-escalation, officers "opened fire almost immediately" after Altamirano ran into the street. The family acknowledges he was holding a knife but argues he never posed an immediate threat and was shot while fleeing. "Families should not have to fear that calling 911 during a mental health emergency will end with their loved one being killed," attorney Richard Lyons said in a statement quoted in the complaint.
Phoenix police tell a very different story. In a media advisory, the department said officers were dispatched after a caller reported a man inside the home who was making suicidal statements and was armed with a knife. Altamirano then came out of the house and ran toward an officer with the knife raised above his head, at which point two officers fired and less-lethal munitions were also used, according to the City of Phoenix. The advisory names the officers involved and notes that the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Major Incident Division is handling the criminal investigation, while the city conducts its own administrative review.
Family, Footage And The Moment Officers Fired
Altamirano's daughters told reporters they called 911 because their father was suicidal and needed help, not bullets. Body-camera footage released at the time shows Altamirano telling officers he wanted to die and asking them to kill him. One daughter, Elizabeth German, is quoted in the public record as saying, "They didn't even ask if you are okay, this is not the way to do it. they didn't try at all. they just opened fire." The lawsuit argues that officers failed to meaningfully negotiate with Altamirano inside the home before the encounter that unfolded at the curb.
Legal Claims And Next Steps
The complaint cites violations of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, along with state-law wrongful-death and battery claims, and seeks both compensatory and punitive damages. Attorneys for the family previously served a notice of claim in November 2025, according to Kelly & Lyons, and have now moved forward with the federal lawsuit on behalf of Altamirano's estate. That civil case will play out while DPS investigators continue their review.
Why This Matters In Phoenix
Local outlets and watchdog groups have pointed to a string of recent officer-involved shootings and civil actions in Phoenix, framing Altamirano's death as part of a broader debate over police training, de-escalation tactics, and responses to people in crisis. Regular coverage of the department's Critical Incident Briefing releases and follow-up investigations has helped keep a spotlight on use-of-force policy in the city, including the release of the Critical Incident Briefing video from October. Advocates say this latest lawsuit raises the pressure on city leaders to show whether policy or training changes are needed.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety's Major Incident Division continues its criminal investigation, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office will review those findings, according to the city advisory. This story will be updated as new court filings and official statements are released.
