Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Phoenix PD Releases Video of Fatal OIS of Gunman Holding Baby

"An officer armed with his city-issued rifle shot at the suspect when he saw the suspect point the gun at the baby and others," Phoenix PD said.

January 26, 2021
Phoenix PD Releases Video of Fatal OIS of Gunman Holding Baby

 

2 min to read


The Phoenix Police Department Monday released harrowing video of a Jan. 9 officer-involved shooting in which a man holding a baby while brandishing and firing a pistol in a city street was killed.

The incident started at approximately 3:15 p.m., when 911 callers reported a man fighting with a woman at a hotel in the area. The callers also reported that a man was shooting at people and holding a baby hostage.

The second 911 call was from a woman who reported her husband had taken her baby and was shooting a gun.

As the suspect walked out of the hotel and into traffic, 911 callers reported they saw the man hold a driver at gun point.

Officers arrived within a minute of the 911 calls and saw the suspect armed and shooting a gun while holding the baby, police said.

Officers can be heard on the video telling the suspect to drop the gun.

Ad Loading...

Two other officers arrived to help.

"An officer armed with his city-issued rifle shot at the suspect when he saw the suspect point the gun at the baby and others," Phoenix PD said in a statement.

The video shows that after the suspect was down, officers immediately ran to the baby to move him to safety. The baby was not injured during the incident.

Suspect Paul Bolden, 37, was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Police say the woman who Bolden was reportedly fighting with was his girlfriend and the baby was his son.

The incident is the subject of both an internal and a criminal investigation, which will be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. "Conclusions about whether the actions of the officers are consistent with department policy and the law will not be made until all facts are known and the investigation is complete," the department said.

More Patrol

image of trooper, shown from waist down, standing beside a police cruiser along the road and at right a headline Slow Down Move Over.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Colorado State Patrol Releases 2025 Struck-By Analysis

The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.

Read More →
Image of a group of men in business attire receiving an award set against a black background and a Streamlight logo up top.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year

Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.

Read More →
Image of a group of men in business attire receiving an award set against a black background and a Streamlight logo up top.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year

Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
DArk backgroundn with inset images of a fallen police officer and a ballistic helmet and headline Rife-Rated.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

The Mission After the Moment

The mission of the Jorge Pastore Foundation is to support first responders through essential training, stronger community engagement, and mental wellness resources, all accessible and funded through donations, sponsorships, and foundation-led fundraising. It works closely with Team Wendy in the discussions about developing better protective gear for officers.

Read More →
Promotional graphic for Patrolfinder featuring a police chief’s headshot inside a circular frame alongside a police SUV in the background. The headline reads: “Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture.”
SponsoredMarch 17, 2026

Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture

Patrol work hasn’t changed—but the expectations on officers have. See how one police chief helped officers get the right information at the right time, improve patrol visibility, and strengthen trust without adding complexity or surveillance. This real-world story shows how patrol-driven technology can make the job safer, smarter, and more effective—starting on day one.

Read More →
Man in a blue blazer lifting his shirt to reveal a concealed handgun in a waistband holster while standing outdoors.
SponsoredMarch 2, 2026

Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty

What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Woman kneeling with a Bloodhound in front of a white pickup truck.
PatrolMarch 1, 2026

K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons

Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.

Read More →
Black background with image of police car light bar, logo for POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips, and headline What are the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical?
Patrolby Wayne ParhamFebruary 25, 2026

Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup

In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.

Read More →
Person in protective CMRN suit and breathing gear.
PatrolFebruary 18, 2026

Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit

With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Sky background with logos for Versatern and Aloft
PatrolFebruary 18, 2026

Versaterm Acquires Aloft to Unlock a New Era of Drones for Public Safety

Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.

Read More →