Police say Phoenix man was stabbing wife when officer shot him

PHOENIX — Police shot and killed a man while he attacked his wife with knives at their Phoenix home Monday evening, authorities said.

The stabbing victim, 40-year-old Monica Castro, died after being rushed to a hospital.

Anthony Castro, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene near 43rd and Southern avenues.

Officers responded to multiple calls about domestic violence just before 6 p.m., the Phoenix Police Department said.

They found an injured elderly woman outside the home and saw Monica Castro kneeling just inside the door, covered in blood.

Anthony Castro was kneeling behind her and holding a knife in each hand, police said. Officers commanded him to drop the knives, but he didn’t comply.

“The suspect continued to hide his body behind Monica, while stabbing her with the knives,” Sgt. Melissa Soliz said in a press release Tuesday. “An officer discharged his firearm, fatally striking Anthony.”

The elderly woman was taken to a hospital and released after being treated for injuries that weren’t life-threatening.

The Castros’ three children were found nearby uninjured. Police said they ran out of the home during the incident.

The department said it plans to release a critical incident briefing video about the shooting within 14 days.

Monday’s incident was the second in a 24-hour period where a suspect was killed by Phoenix police. Officers fatally shot a man who allegedly pulled out a gun while they tried to arrest him during a shooting investigation near 43rd Avenue and Encanto Boulevard around 6:45 p.m. Sunday.

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