Tempe Police identifies suspect in deadly officer-involved shooting
TEMPE, Ariz. - An armed man was shot and killed by Tempe Police officers on Thursday afternoon, the police department said.
The Sept. 12 shooting happened near Baseline Road and Priest Drive around 12:30 p.m.
"Officers received a 911 call from a victim about a subject disturbing. It was at that time officers responded and contacted the victim. Information was learned that the suspect also pointed a gun at this victim. The victim identified the suspect and officers made contact with the suspect at his apartment," says Officer Jessica Ells of the Tempe Police Department.
The suspect allegedly didn't come out of the apartment and only spoke with officers through a window. Officers eventually moved back to a safer distance to continue talking with the suspect.
The suspect came out of his apartment, but went back in. He came out again, but this time he allegedly had a handgun, and pointed it at the officers.
"It was at that time that an officer involved shooting occurred," Ells says. "Two officers fired their duty weapons and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene."
On Sept. 13, Tempe Police identified the suspect as 44-year-old Jake R. Carruth. No officers were hurt.
The East Valley Critical Response Team is investigating the shooting, and Tempe Police officials are directing all further inquiries on the investigation to Mesa Police.
‘It hits close to home’
"Two SWAT trucks pulled in. We heard a couple of shots, and it didn't look too chaotic, but it seems more chaotic how they're sticking around and how the police forces came out," said a witness named Dedtrick. "It didn't sound like actual gunshots. It sounded like maybe a rubber bullet gun, or tear gas. "They're stating it might be a casualty so it might be the real gunshots that we heard."
The last time Tempe Police were called to the suspect's apartment was on Sept. 5th for a welfare check.
"It hits close to home. Tempe is generally a good neighborhood, you know. For the most part, the whole town. It's active in a fun way, a college town. But, crime like this, shootings and everything, you don't hear about it too much," Dedtrick said.