US marshals fire shot while arresting child sex crime suspect in Gilbert

PHOENIX – U.S. marshals in Gilbert arrested a man accused of sexual conduct with a 12-year-old girl on Wednesday after a task force member fired a shot, authorities said.

Andrew Thompson, 38, had been identified as a suspect by Chandler Police Department investigators, the U.S. Marshals Service said in a press release.

In coordination with police, members of the U.S. Marshals Arizona Wanted Task Force tracked Thompson to a residence near Guadalupe Road and Arizona Avenue.

Task force members attempting to arrest Thompson at first used less-than-lethal munitions. When Thompson began reaching into his jacket pocket, a task force member fired one shot, according to the release.

Thompson wasn’t hit but started complying after the shot was fired. The task force took him into custody and found a weapon inside his jacket, according to the release.

The suspect underwent a medical evaluation before being taken to Maricopa County Jail.

The Gilbert Police Department is handling the investigation of the incident.

It was third shooting involving law enforcement in metro Phoenix this year, the first for the U.S. Marshals Service.

Related

Mesa police officers fatally shoot knife-wielding manOfficer-involved shooting in Mesa leaves 1 person deadSuspect dead after barricading himself inside Glendale home for hours, police say16-year-old facing murder charges for deadly June shooting in PhoenixWhich Arizona cities, counties, law enforcement agencies have stopped using Flock cameras?Police investigating after man dies days after found with life-threatening injuries in west Phoenix