Video shows Phoenix officers shooting man accused of firing rounds at police helicopter

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Police Department released bodycam footage showing the moments leading up to officers shooting a man suspected of firing at law enforcement helicopters last month.

Several officers responded to a call of shots fired near 38th Street and Thomas Road around 3 a.m. on March 22. After reports of repeated gunfire, officers requested aerial support to identify the origin of the shots. The air support unit then observed an armed man in the backyard of an apartment.

Warning: The video posted in the link by the Phoenix Police Department contains graphic images. Viewer discretion is advised.

Bodycam footage shows the moment Phoenix police officers shot the suspect

The Critical Incident Briefing Video released last week includes body-worn camera footage from two officers, thermal drone imagery — which does not show color — multiple 911 calls, and audio from a tactical flight officer aboard the helicopter deployed to the scene.

“I got a guy on the back patio of an apartment. He just loaded a — it looks like he just loaded a handgun,” the tactical flight officer said in one call.

The officer, whose name was not released, describes the suspect handling a gun magazine and then pointing the weapon directly at the helicopter.

“He just fired two or three times now at our helicopter,” he added.

The video also includes radio chatter from a patrol officer where several gunshots can be heard in the background.

One responding officer deployed a drone to get a closer view of the suspect, whose name has not been made public.

Sgt. Lorraine Fernandez, who provides narration throughout the video, said the drone footage shows the man raising a gun and firing it at the air unit.

“It was at this point the officer-involved shooting occurred,” Fernandez said.

Three officers fired their weapons, injuring the man. Two had their body-worn cameras activated, while the third did not activate theirs in time, so that camera did not capture the shooting.

“Due to the officers being inside a dark room, the footage is difficult to see until the shooting occurred,” Fernandez said.

The suspect was hospitalized and is still receiving treatment.

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