Expand / Collapse search
☰

'Call 9-1-1': Glendale store manager helps save woman before police shoot knife-wielding suspect

By and
Published  May 20, 2026 12:15 PM MST
Police Shootings
FOX 10 Phoenix
Glendale police shoot knife-wielding man

Glendale police shoot knife-wielding man

A Glendale Police officer shot a man who reportedly pulled a knife and held a woman by the neck inside a local business Wednesday morning. FOX 10's Andrew Christiansen reports.

The Brief

    • Police say a woman is safe after a man she entered a Glendale business with pulled a knife on her and held her by the neck, prompting a responding officer to shoot the suspect on May 20.
    • The business manager called emergency services after noticing a cut on the woman's hand and seeing her mouth the words call 9-1-1 while attempting to buy a firearm.
    • The suspect was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and the woman was also transported to the hospital for unrelated injuries as police continue to review body camera footage.

GLENDALE, Ariz. - A woman is safe after a man she went to a Glendale business with pulled a knife on her, leading an officer to shoot the man to stop him from hurting her.

What we know:

The shooting happened on Wednesday, May 20 near 63rd Avenue and Bell Road.

Police say a man and a woman went into the business around 10 a.m., and the woman was trying to buy a gun. They say the man might not have been eligible to buy one. That is when the manager noticed a cut on her hand and she mouthed call 9-1-1.

The manager called 9-1-1 and two officers got there. They say they saw the man get mad, and they started giving the man and woman commands.

Instead of listening, the man reportedly got behind the woman and wrapped his arm around her neck. He did not stop there, allegedly reaching for his knife. Police say that one officer used a Taser on him first, but when that did not work, another officer used his gun to shoot him.

"Domestic violence unfortunately happens a lot in every community, and it's one thing that we as a police department do our best to try to educate and have resources available for those that are victims of domestic violence," Glendale Police Lt. Wade Kamman said.

Police say the man has injuries that are not threatening to his life and he was taken to the hospital, and so was the woman for unrelated injuries.

What we don't know:

The suspect wasn't identified. The business this happened in was not named, but police say it was at a pawn shop.

Police are still looking at body camera footage for more information, and they are looking into things like if the man and woman had a romantic relationship.

What's next:

"The Buckeye Police Department took over the investigation as part of the West Valley Incident Response Team," the Glendale Police Department said.

Map of the area where the shooting happened:

The Source: The Glendale Police Department

Police ShootingsGlendaleNewsCrime and Public Safety