Scottsdale police say suspect fired first before officers fatally shot him

PHOENIX — Police in Scottsdale said officers fatally shot an armed man who fired at them Sunday night after a confrontation in front of a home.

The Scottsdale Police Department said officers shot a man later identified as Isaiah Curtis, 26, shortly before 7 p.m. near Granite Reef Road and 82nd Street, in the area of Hohokam Elementary School.

Officers rendered aid but Curtis was pronounced dead by emergency medical personnel at 7:10 p.m., police said in a press release Monday.

Police had responded to the scene after a call at 6:45 p.m. about a domestic disturbance. Curtis’ ex-girlfriend told police she had dropped him off at an address on Cypress Street and that he had a gun.

Police reached the neighborhood at 6:50 p.m. and made contact with Curtis and saw he had a pistol.

Curtis refused orders to drop the gun and then shot at the officers, police said.

Both officers returned fire, hitting Curtis.

The officers performed life-saving measures including CPR and applying a tourniquet, Bolin said, until emergency medical personnel got there.

The suspect was taken to HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center.

Police said they recovered a gun next to Curtis.

The two officers have been placed on post-critical incident leave during the internal and criminal investigations, which is standard procedure after an officer-involved shooting, police said.

The patrol officers involved have less than 5 years of experience combined. One officer has 1½ years of service and the other about 3 years, Bolin said.

In 2022, Scottsdale Police reported 56 assaults on police officers, according to data released by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

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