Bank robbery suspect shot, killed in Tempe by police, authorities say

Mesa bank robbery suspect shot, killed by officers: PD

A man suspected of robbing a bank on Sept. 27 was shot and killed by police in Tempe two days later after police believed he was armed and not surrendering to officers.

TEMPE, Ariz. - The Tempe and Mesa police departments are investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting of a suspected bank robber on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 29.

The investigation was near Baseline Road and Mill Avenue, the department said in a Tweet at 2:15 p.m.

The Tempe Police Department says the shooting stemmed from a robbery at a Desert Financial Credit Union in Mesa on Monday.

The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Stephen Franco, was at an apartment complex in the area on Wednesday when police made contact with him. Police say they gave multiple commands to the suspect to get out of a car but he reportedly refused.

"They began to communicate with the suspect to exit the car. The suspect at that time continued to be verbally and physically non-compliant. When he was asked if he was armed he shook his head yes and made motions that he was in fact armed. At that point Mesa treated it as a barricade," explained Hector Encinas with the Tempe Police Department.

Mesa SWAT members were called in, and authorities attempted to get Franco out using negotiation. When that didn't work, they used bean bag rounds and chemical agents to make him exit.

Franco got out of the car once police used the chemical agent, and he began walking to the back of the car, police say. He reportedly continued to ignore commands and was unaffected by bean bag rounds that were still being fired at him. A K-9 was used as well.

At some point during the confrontation, Franco reportedly lowered his hand to his waistband, and police shot him in response.

Investigators say four police officers shot at the suspect. It's unclear which agency was involved in the shooting.

Tempe Police say a gun was found near the scene next to where Franco had been standing, but they have not confirmed if the gun belonged to the suspect.

The case is still under investigation.