Knife-wielding suspect seriously hurt following police shooting in north Phoenix, PD says
PHOENIX - A knife-wielding suspect was seriously hurt after being shot several times by Phoenix Police, the department said in a press conference Monday afternoon.
According to police, the shooting happened on April 24 near 33rd Avenue and Bell Road. Police say the incident began when officers responded to reports of a female security guard being assaulted by a man at around 11:15 a.m. near 27th Avenue and Bell Road.
The suspect then fled the scene on a bicycle.
"As officers were responding to this call, they were given a description of the man that allegedly committed this assault," Phoenix Police Sgt. Rob Scherer said. He said one of the sergeants responding to the call recognized the suspect and the bike that were described near 31st Avenue.
The sergeant told the suspect to stop, but he reportedly refused and continued westbound on his bike.
"The man proceeded to the apartment complex where we're at here near 33rd Avenue and Bell Road and proceeded into the complex. The sergeant at that time did lose sight of him. The sergeant proceeded to a different part of the complex …" Scherer said.
Eventually, the sergeant found the suspect and told him to get on the ground, but instead, the suspect took off again.
After a short foot pursuit later and with more officers arriving at the scene, they confronted the suspect to find him armed with a knife on the east side of the apartment complex.
"At that point, the sergeant had the man at gunpoint. The second officer arrived on scene, deployed with his less lethal ‘Taser.’ The man was given very quick verbal commands again to get on the ground and drop the knife," Scherer said.
The suspect refused, police say, and charged at officers. The sergeant shot the suspect several times, and an officer deployed a stun gun.
The suspect is stable at the hospital. He was not identified.
"This incident will be the subject of a criminal investigation and an administrative investigation," Phoenix Police spokeswoman Donna Rossi said. "The Phoenix Police Department will follow its normal protocol after an officer involved shooting."
Area where the shooting happened: