Suspect in Tempe police shooting allegedly killed his stepfather: PD
TEMPE, Ariz. - Police in Tempe say they believe the suspect in an officer-involved shooting on Friday is behind a family member's murder.
According to a police spokesperson, officers responded to a mobile home park in the area of 48th Street and Southern Avenue at about 7 a.m. on Aug. 16 following a 911 call.
"The caller believed her son killed her husband," said Sgt. Ryan Cook with the Tempe Police Department. "She provided a description of her son, and that she last saw her husband on the floor in their residence, unresponsive."
In a statement released hours after the shooting, police identified the 911 caller as a 74-year-old woman.
"Officers contacted the woman at the entrance of the mobile home park. After she provided further information, officers surrounded the residence and made announcements for her son to come out. The son came out of the home with a gun and refused to drop it after orders from police," read a portion of the statement.
Police say the suspect, who they identified as a 55-year-old man, first turned the gun on himself before pointing it at police, prompting an officer to open fire, striking the man. The officer was identified as a 16-year veteran of Tempe Police.
"According to Tempe Police policy, he is currently on post-critical incident leave pending the investigation," read a portion of the statement.
In their statement, police did not detail the nature of the suspect's injuries.
"The son is out of surgery and receiving additional medical attention," officials wrote.
Inside the home, police say the 911 caller's husband was found dead. He was identified as a 77-year-old. The victim was the suspect's stepfather.
Anyone with information should call Tempe Police.
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