Man killed in shooting involving Chandler police officers was carrying AK-47, handgun, police say

PHOENIX — The man who was killed by Chandler police officers last week was armed with an AK-47 rifle and a handgun and had other guns in his car at the time of the shooting, authorities announced Tuesday.

Enrique Lopez Gress was identified as the man shot and killed near the intersection of Pecos and McQueen roads in Chandler on Thursday, according to the Mesa Police Department (MPD), which is investigating the shooting.

He was carrying the rifle, which had a drum magazine attached, when the shooting happened and officers later found a rifle, handgun, body armor, ammunition, drugs and cash in his car, MPD said.

What led up to Chandler police officers shooting heavily-armed suspect?

Officers were originally called to the area of Frye Road and Windstream Place around 6:50 a.m. on Thursday after a caller reported a person, now identified as Gress, trying to break into their home, police said.

When Chandler officers got to the home, Gress got into his car and drove away, hitting a patrol SUV.

Officers then pursued Gress until he crashed into a white Jeep at the intersection of Pecos and McQueen roads.

The officers were then able to box Gress’s car in, and they ordered him to get out of the car.

He eventually got out of the car and was carrying the rifle as he ran toward a drug store parking lot, MPD said.

Officers initially tried using pepper balls to subdue Gress, but as they were being fired, the officers saw Gress point his rifle at them, which is when the officers shot him.

Gress did not drop the rifle after being shot, so officers continued shooting until it was determined that he was no longer a threat.

Gress was pronounced dead at the scene.

No officers were hurt.

Mesa police said Gress fired one shot from his rifle during the shooting and that a shell casing found at the scene matched Gress’ rifle.

The investigation is still open.

MPD is investigating this shooting as part of the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team.

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