Witness sought after police shooting of a knife-wielding man in Phoenix, department says
PHOENIX - A man was shot by Phoenix Police after 911 reports said he was threatening people with a knife and refused to comply with officers, and a person who might have witnessed the incident is being asked to contact the department.
The incident unfolded on Saturday, Dec. 3 just after 9:30 a.m. when officers got word a man with a knife was threatening people near 27th Avenue and Thomas Road.
When officers arrived, they saw a man who matched the description from witnesses.
"Officers stopped their vehicle near the man and began ordering him to drop the knife he was holding. One of the officers used a less-lethal launcher and fired one impact round at the man in an attempt to have him comply. The man continued to run west along Thomas Road," said Phoenix Police Sgt. Brian Bower. "Officers ran after the man while giving commands to stop and put the knife down. While chasing after the man, multiple attempts with the less-lethal launcher were used to gain the man’s compliance. All attempts with the less-lethal tools were unsuccessful."
The suspect, identified as 53-year-old John Torp, reportedly then headed toward an occupied car and that's when he was shot by police. Torp suffered serious injuries and was taken to the hospital. He has since been released from the hospital and booked into jail.
"No officers or community members were injured during this incident," Bower said.
The Phoenix Police Department is looking for whoever was in an older white Chevrolet Tahoe, saying they were likely a witness in close proximity to the shooting. If that's you, you're asked to call the Phoenix Police non-emergency line at 602-262-6151.