Suspect dead after barricading himself inside Glendale home for hours, police say

A suspect is dead after barricading himself inside a Glendale home and shooting at police on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

Glendale police spokesperson Justin Ramsay told reporters the situation began after officers were contacted by a woman stating that her father was inside her home and violating an order of protection. She was not home at the time and saw him on surveillance cameras.

Police responded to the residence near 75th and Glendale avenues, verified an order of protection was in place and attempted to contact the suspect, which is when he barricaded himself and refused to speak with authorities.

Ramsay noted the suspect was known to be armed as well as have access to body armor, helmets and gas masks.

Glendale SWAT tried making contact with the man around 3 p.m. after being granted a search warrant and were met with gunfire, according to Ramsay.

The suspect proceeded to use a rifle to fire at officers repeatedly over the next two hours, allegedly striking multiple police vehicles, including an armored SWAT car which was left inoperable. Ramsay added that during the course of incident the man shot down two of the department’s drones.

During this time, neighbors were asked to shelter in place, which has since been lifted.

Around 6 p.m., the gunfire stopped, police flew a drone into the home and found the man injured. SWAT medics proceeded to enter the residence and found the suspect deceased from a gunshot wound.

Ramsay said it is not currently known whether the gunshot wound was self-inflicted or from an officer.

Police did not release the man’s identity but said he was 59 years old.

The Avondale Police Department is leading the investigation into the incident as part of the West Valley Incident Response Team.

Related

16-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 PhoenixThunderstorms develop in the Valley bringing rain, windsBoy dies at Las Vegas hospital after jumping from bridge in Lake Havasu CityArizona ESA accountability proposition must be rewritten to be included on the ballot, judge rules