Newly released body camera footage and 911 calls are pulling back the curtain on a tense February standoff in Queen Creek that ended when police shot and killed a 23-year-old man. Authorities identified him as Gaven Johnson, who officers say was wanted in connection with a hit-and-run involving a stolen vehicle. One officer was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and two others had minor injuries.
How the pursuit began
According to the Town of Queen Creek, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office was first dispatched shortly after 5 p.m. on Feb. 10 to a crashed, abandoned vehicle near 41100 N. Rattlesnake Road. Deputies then asked Queen Creek police for help.
Officers later spotted someone matching the suspect description in the 1200 block of W. Queen Creek Road. Witnesses told police they saw a person moving through backyards in the Ironwood Crossing neighborhood. The town’s statement says officers used less-lethal tools while conducting a yard-to-yard search before the encounter escalated into an officer-involved shooting.
What the cameras and calls reveal
Body camera audio and several 911 calls released this week capture officers repeatedly ordering the man to surrender, while rattled neighbors report someone lurking at their back doors. A homeowner’s security video appears to show the man holding a handgun, and bodycam audio records an officer yelling, “Put your hands up now or you’re going to be shot!” just before gunfire breaks out, according to AZFamily.
The footage also shows officers using a loudspeaker and deploying a K-9 unit as they move from yard to yard looking for the suspect.
Backyard showdown and its aftermath
Queen Creek officials say officers eventually entered a backyard on West Joshua Tree Avenue with a K-9 and initially believed a large tarp was covering a dog, according to the Town of Queen Creek. They then realized the tarp was hiding the suspect.
The town’s release says officers shot the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A Queen Creek Police Department officer was taken to a local hospital for minor injuries and has since been released.
Outside investigators step in
The Mesa Police Department is leading the investigation as part of the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team, FOX 10 Phoenix reported. Officials say the case remains active and that outside detectives are reviewing the audio, video and other evidence.
Why the footage is surfacing now
Although the shooting occurred on Feb. 10, the bodycam video and 911 recordings were only released this week, prompting renewed coverage and fresh questions about what happened, according to AZFamily. The release gives the public a closer look at the minutes leading up to the shooting, even as investigators continue to sort through the evidence.
