Flagstaff officer involved in fatal 2018 shooting dies of apparent suicide
Mar 14, 2019, 12:43 PM
(Flagstaff police photo)
(Flagstaff police photo)
PHOENIX — A Flagstaff police officer who was involved in the fatal shooting of an elderly man in 2018 has died of an apparent suicide.
The Flagstaff Police Department said in a Facebook statement that Officer Daniel Beckwith was found dead in his Mesa home on Tuesday.
“The City of Flagstaff and the Flagstaff Police Department extends its deepest condolences to Officer Beckwith’s family and friends,” part of the Facebook statement read.
Beckwith has been on paid leave since last June, months after 78-year-old John Hamilton was shot and killed after he allegedly pointed a weapon at officers and ignored commands.
“Drop the gun,” Beckwith said to Hamilton at the time. “I will shoot you!”
Body camera footage released after the shooting showed that Beckwith and Officer Travis Rowden were the two officers who fired at Hamilton during the February 2018 incident.
Beckwith had been with the department since 2014.
Editor’s note: If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 24/7 at 800-273-8255.
