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SEARCHA Phoenix police officer fatally shot a man advancing on officers with a hatchet and chisel after a less-lethal launcher did not stop the man’s advance.
A man brandishing a hatchet and a chisel advanced on officers before being fatally shot by an officer armed with a patrol rifle.
POLICE
A Phoenix police officer fatally shot a man armed with a hatchet, knife, and chisel. Police deployed less-lethal weapons, but the man continued to advance on officers while brandishing two of the edged weapons.
The Phoenix Police Department released a critical incident briefing video, which shows the events from multiple officers’ body-worn cameras. Sgt. Lorraine Fernadez, of the department’s public affairs bureau, provided narration about how the events unfolded.
The night of the shooting, Aug. 19, officers were dispatched to a trespassing call at a local restaurant. The caller told the 911 dispatcher that a man entered the restaurant after he had been told to leave and was now threatening customers.
“He has a really large hatchet and a knife on him, and a chisel,” one 911 caller reported.
A second caller also reported a man armed with a hatchet and making threats. “I fear for my life,” the female caller told the 911 dispatcher.
Officers arrived and found the man outside the restaurant, brandishing a hatchet and a chisel.
“Officers gave him multiple commands, which the man did not comply with as he continued to walk towards the officers,” Fernandez said in the briefing video. “One officer used his 40-mm less-lethal launcher, striking the man with limited effect as the man continued walking towards officers.”
As the man continued to advance on the officers while holding the hatchet and chisel, an officer fired his patrol rifle, stopping the man’s advance.
Officers immediately rendered aid, and the Phoenix Fire Department responded and transported the man to an area hospital, where he later died.
The officer who fired his patrol rifle has served seven years with the Phoenix Police Department. No officers were injured.
“This incident is the subject of a criminal investigation being conducted by the major incident division of the Department of Public Safety. It will be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney's office. It is also the subject of an administrative investigation being conducted by the Phoenix Police Department,” Fernadez explained.
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