Man shot, killed by Tempe officers linked to other 'racially motivated' crimes: police
TEMPE, Ariz. - A man who was killed in an officer-involved shooting last week in Tempe has been linked to two other crimes that are believed to be racially motivated, police said.
Tempe Police say 27-year-old Jason Fox shot an officer during a traffic stop at around 9 p.m. on Oct. 1 near College Avenue and Curry Road.
Other officers at the scene returned fire, killing Fox.
The officer who was shot was treated at a hospital and released.
Suspect accused of committing ‘racially motivated’ crimes prior to police shooting
Jason Fox, 27, was killed in an officer-involved shooting near College Avenue and Curry Road on Oct. 1.
Hours before the officer-involved shooting, police say Fox, who is white, targeted people who identify as Black or African American, in "racially motivated" crimes.
The first incident happened just before midnight on Sept. 30, when Fox allegedly confronted two people near the Mill Avenue Bridge.
[Fox] shouted racial slurs at the couple, and brandished a handgun, before taking off," police said.
Less than 20 minutes later, police say Fox yelled racial slurs at a group of people at Tempe Beach Park before pulling out a gun and shooting a man in the face.
Tempe Beach Park shooting leaves 1 in critical condition
A suspect remains on the loose following a shooting near Rio Salado Parkway and Mill Avenue that left one person in critical condition.
Investigators say when they tried to take Fox into custody in connection to the alleged crimes, the officer-involved shooting occurred.
Tempe Police ask anyone with additional information on the incidents to contact them at 480-350-8311.