Man critically injured after being shot by police in north Phoenix
PHOENIX - An investigation is underway following a police shooting at a shopping center in north Phoenix that sent one person to the hospital.
The shooting reportedly happened in the area of 7th Street and Bell Road, and investigators were still on the scene hours after the shooting.
The incident began at about 4:45 p.m. on May 9 when Phoenix Police officers responded to a criminal damage call at an apartment complex near Seventh Street and Bell Road. Once at the scene, officers received a second call nearby of a man breaking windows of a business and throwing bottles at cars.
Once at that scene, officers found a man matching the description of the first incident. The man was holding a river rock and "was acting erratically." When officers ordered the man to drop the rock and get on the ground, he refused and ran away.
One of the officers ran after the man across Bell Road and into another strip mall parking lot.
"The man made his way to a restaurant and onto the outdoor patio," Sgt. Philip Krynsky said in a statement. "The officer gave the man commands to drop the rock, but he continued to act erratically. The man then walked to an entrance of the restaurant and the officer involved shooting occurred."
After the shooting, officers treated the man at the scene before he was taken to a hospital in critical, but stable condition. His identity was not released.
No officers were hurt.
Body cam released on May 23
Body camera footage from two responding officers shows one officer shooting the man after multiple 911 calls were made about him acting violently in public.
Phoenix PD says the incident is under a criminal and internal investigations that will be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office to see if the officer involved shooting is consistent with the law and department policy.
Customers witnessed shooting
Estelita Morgan said she was picking up a takeaway order from a nearby restaurant when she witnessed the incident unfold in front of her.
"We were coming past Chili's, police cars were coming everywhere, so we were having to move out the way and move this way and that way, and I looked over, and the police were already in the courtyard, and he was shooting at something, so we pulled over some more to get out of that line of fire," said Morgan.
Jake Reynolds said he heard multiple gunshots, as he watched the scene unfold from inside his sushi restaurant across the parking lot.
"I saw him running towards the Chili's, and I heard some gunshots," said Reynolds. "Just terrified. We shut down the restaurant."
An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information should leave an anonymous tip by calling Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. Spanish speakers can leave an anonymous tip by calling Testigo Silencioso at 480-TESTIGO.
Si tiene alguna información sobre este caso, llame a la línea de Testigo Silencioso (480-TESTIGO, 480-837-8446).
Silent Witness
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