Man with AK-47 shot, killed by officers in Chandler: PD

Suspect in deadly Chandler officer-involved shooting ID'd

Police say Enrique Gress pointed an AK-47 at officers before being shot and killed on Aug. 21 near Pecos and McQueen Roads. Prior to the shooting, police say Gress tried to break into someone's home and then led officers on a brief pursuit before crashing into another car.

CHANDLER, Ariz. - A home invasion suspect who allegedly pointed an AK-47 at officers in Chandler was shot and killed.

What we know:

According to police, officers on Aug. 21 responded to reports of someone trying to break into a home near Frye Road and Windstream Place just before 7 a.m.

"The caller reported that an unknown person was trying to enter their house and was now arguing with their father in the garage," police said.

Once at the scene, officers encountered the suspect, who hit a police SUV and fled the area in a car.

"Officers pursued the suspect for a short time before his car was involved in a collision with an uninvolved witness’ vehicle at the intersection of Pecos and McQueen. Chandler officers were able to box in the suspect’s car and began giving commands not to move," police said.

Police say an armed home invasion suspect was killed on Aug. 21 following a pursuit near Frye and McQueen Roads. (KSAZ-TV)

Police say the suspect got out of his car with an AK-47 and ran toward a nearby CVS parking lot. As officers deployed less-lethal pepper balls, the suspect allegedly pointed the AK-47 toward officers.

"At that point, an officer-involved shooting occurred. The suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene. No officers were injured during the incident," Chandler Police said.

The suspect was identified as Enrique Gress. Police say there isn't a connection between him and the home invasion victims.

"The exact manner of how the shooting took place is still under investigation, whether who was moving and what direction and where, that's all something that’s being looked into right now," Chandler Police spokesperson Ryan Cody said.

Dig deeper:

According to the Mesa Police Department, Gress fired one shot from the AK-47. He was also armed with a handgun at the time of the shooting. After serving a search warrant on Gress' car, police say they found a rifle, a handgun, body armor, ammunition, drugs and cash inside.

What they're saying:

A woman named Stacey who lives nearby said, "I can’t believe it. It’s frustrating things happen in the state. You don’t know what’s happening and if it happens, and you’re just frustrated."

What's next:

As part of the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team, Mesa Police are investigating the shooting.

Map of where the shooting happened