Glendale police exchange gunfire with man suspected of killing father

PHOENIX – Police in Glendale said Friday they shot and wounded a man suspected of killing his father to end an hourslong overnight standoff.

The Glendale Police Department said Rafael Vargas-Olvera, 26, faces charges including homicide, aggravated assault and attempted murder of a police officer.

He was hospitalized with critical injuries but expected to survive, police said.

A department spokesperson said officers arrived at a house near 69th and Glendale avenues around 8:30 p.m. Thursday after a man called to say he had been stabbed at a family gathering.

When police arrived and tried to make contact, Vargas-Olvera wouldn’t come to the door, they said.

Then police said they heard shots fired and called in the SWAT team.

During all this, police said a woman called 911 and said she’d spoken on the phone with her brother and he told her that he had shot their father.

OIS near 6900 W McClellan. No officers injured. Suspect transported to local valley hospital for treatment. No outstanding suspects. PIO enroute to scene. Media staging area 6900 W Maryland Ave.

— Glendale Police (@GlendaleAZPD) August 26, 2022

Family members tried to talk Vargas-Olvera into giving himself up, but he continued to fire at officers.

He was eventually injured by return fire from police.

Officers made their way inside the home and found Antonio Vargas-Granados, 48, dead.

Police said they had never been called to the home before.

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