Police: Suspect killed in officer-involved shooting had replica rifle

PHOENIX (FOX 10) - Police say a suspect is dead and no officers are hurt following an officer-involved shooting in Phoenix.

According to the Phoenix Police Department, the shooting happened near 40th Street and Van Buren. An Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) camera near Loop 202 and 40th Street captured video of the suspect before the shooting. In the video, the man, identified by Phoenix police as 26-year-old Alejandro Hernandez, can be seen in a red shirt, and it appears he had a weapon slung across his body.

According to police, Hernandez violated an Order of Protection earlier and left a home in the area on foot. Officers went looking for him and found him on the north side of the canal. The neighborhood, police, and an elementary school were on the south side.

People living in the area said they usually walk and play around the canal.

"I usually, on a daily basis, come here walking with the kids, so this is pretty scary," said Liz Rodriguez.

"My kids like to play outside, other kids like to play outside, and it would be horrible if this was a Saturday," said a man, identified only as "Dre".

Police tried to talk to Hernandez, who was hiding his weapon during the confrontation.

"The subject was walking along the canal bank, and had some type of blanket over top of him concealing his hands," said Sgt. Vince Lewis with the Phoenix Police Department.

According to police, Hernandez did not comply with officers' commands, and dropped the blanket, revealing what appeared to be a firearm. He repeatedly pointed the weapon at officers during the interaction, and even tried to enter an empty construction vehicle at one point to evade officers. Eventually, one officer fired his service rifle, striking him.

Witnesses in the area said they heard around four or five gunshots. A woman who arrived at the scene shortly thereafter broke down in tears, as she saw the man lying on the ground. Hernandez was taken to the hospital, where he later died. A replica rifle was recovered at the scene, according to police officials.

People living in the area were relieved, as the gunman was no longer a threat.

"The people that had the Protective Order against that person did what they're supposed to do," said Dre.

At this time in 2018, Phoenix Police had 16 officer-involved shootings, and so far in 2019. there are six officer-involved shootings in Phoenix.