Man accused of shooting at police officers multiple times during welfare check | Crime Files

Phoenix officers shot at during welfare check

Police say the shooting happened on Aug. 6, and the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Matthew Beckner-Gonzales, is accused of multiple crimes for what he allegedly did.

PHOENIX - Police in Phoenix say they arrested a man who allegedly shot at police officers on Tuesday.

Here's a look at what happened.

Who's the suspect?

Matthew Beckner-Gonzales

Police identified the suspect as 36-year-old Matthew Scot Beckner-Gonzales.

Court documents listed a number of prior arrest or arrests for Beckner-Gonzales, but they were redacted from the documents we received.

What happened?

Per court documents, officers responded to what was described as a "check welfare call" at a home in the area of 35th Avenue and Mohawk Lane. In their statement, Phoenix Police say that happened just before 8:00 a.m. on Aug. 6.

"Details of the call stated a woman called police about her adult son not acting like himself," read a portion of the court documents.

When officers arrived, one of them went to the front door and knocked, while stating he was with the Phoenix Police Department. That officer later heard someone run from inside the home, and then the front door opened.

"[Beckner] was standing to the right of the entryway, holding a handgun down to his side. [The officer] drew his handgun and pointed it at [Beckner] while giving him commands to drop the weapon," read a portion of the court documents. "[Beckner] raised his gun towards the officer, [Beckner's mother] moved to [Beckner], grabbing his arms. Simultaneously, [Beckner's mother] and [Beckner] fall to the ground, then [Beckner] shoots approximately six times from inside the entryway."

Investigators say the officer who knocked on the door backed up to find cover. Police say none of the officers returned fire. Eventually, Beckner and his mother exited the home. Beckner reportedly tried to resist efforts by officers to place him in custody, but he was eventually handcuffed after another arrived at the scene.

Per court documents, none of the officers suffered major injuries, nor did Beckner.

In an interview that was done after Beckner was read his Miranda rights, court documents state that Beckner talked about "wanting to talk with Jesus, and expressed how he was afraid he would get murdered."

"[Beckner] also said someone made him pull the trigger on his own gun. [Beckner] made statements about not being in control of himself, and how he shot three times towards the enemy. [Beckner] would not describe who the enemy was," read a portion of the court documents.