A Tucson-area family is demanding answers after a deputy-involved shooting that investigators now say likely stemmed from a "swatting" hoax left 23-year-old Axeel Melendez paralyzed on April 10. Melendez, who says he warned authorities days earlier that online attackers were threatening to send police to his home, is at the center of a case that has triggered a massive legal claim and fresh scrutiny of how agencies handle suspicious calls.
Video Shows Deputies Forcing Their Way In
Body-camera and investigative footage released June 23 by the Pima Regional Critical Incident Team shows deputies arriving at the home, announcing themselves, trying doors and then using a shovel to smash a rear bedroom window before climbing into the room where Melendez was standing, according to the Arizona Daily Star. Two deputies opened fire during the rapid encounter, and the compressed timeline captured on video has become a focal point in the debate over how the situation was handled.
Family Says He Warned Deputies Days Before Raid
Attorneys for Melendez say that on April 8 he contacted the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, reporting that hackers had broken into his accounts and were threatening to "swat" him if he did not pay. Those lawyers later filed a notice of claim seeking $320 million from Pima County and the sheriff’s department, a filing and account outlined by Arizona’s Family.
Seconds Before Shots Fired Now Under Microscope
Investigators identified the deputies who fired their weapons as Santiago Casillas-Velazquez and Andres Vasquez. Released footage shows the deputy who climbed into the bedroom fired first, while another deputy positioned outside also discharged a weapon, though investigators have not said whether Melendez himself fired at officers. A multi-agency review team that was activated for the incident is continuing its work as both the criminal and administrative investigations move forward, according to KOLD.
Mother Recalls Son Saying ‘I Love You, Mom’
In the chaotic seconds after the shots, Melendez’s mother, Carmen, told reporters she walked toward her son and heard him say, "I love you, mom." Attorneys for the family say he suffered severe spinal injuries that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Relatives say he remains hospitalized and is recovering from surgery, according to Arizona’s Family.
Multiple Investigations, Few Public Answers So Far
The Pima Regional Critical Incident Team has said it will submit its findings to the Pima County Attorney’s Office. Under the arrangement for such incidents, the Tucson Police Department is handling the criminal investigation, while the sheriff’s office conducts an internal review. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has declined to dive into specifics while those inquiries are underway, saying officials will allow the independent process to run its course, according to the Arizona Daily Star.
Federal Guidance Warned How Swatting Tricks Dispatchers
Federal guidance on swatting notes that hoaxers often call in through non-emergency numbers, spoof caller ID and layer in specific but fabricated details to sell a fake threat as real. It urges 911 telecommunicators to watch for recurring warning signs and to directly verify suspicious reports with people at the location in question whenever possible. The National 911 Program’s fact sheet lays out those red flags and recommended steps for public safety answering points, according to the National 911 Program.
Melendez’s family argues that the videos and records highlight preventable errors and is calling for accountability while investigators work to identify who placed the hoax call. For now, the civil notice remains in place and the criminal investigation continues.
