3-year-old girl dies days after being shot by her father during standoff with Surprise police

PHOENIX — A 3-year-old girl who was shot by her father on Thursday died from her injuries on Monday, according to the Surprise Police Department.

Dariusz Modrzejewski, 48, shot her at their home in the area of 184th Drive and West Bell Road during a standoff with law enforcement, police said.

Before she was shot, authorities received reports about a man acting erratically in the area. They responded to the home around 6:30 p.m.

The man, 48-year-old Dariusz Modrzejewski, then called 911 and said he wanted to harm his family, police said.

What happened before toddler shot in Surprise?

Crisis negotiators with the Surprise Police Department and a SWAT team tried to find a peaceful resolution with Modrzejewski while setting up a perimeter around the home.

Officers then heard a gunshot from inside the home, forced entry and found the 3-year-old girl with a gunshot wound, police aid.

Authorities rushed her to a nearby ambulance and arrested Modrzejewski.

Charges for man accused of shooting 3-year-old girl during standoff with Surprise Police

Modrzejewski faces various charges:

• Aggravated assault by use of a deadly weapon.
• Aggravated assault of a minor under 15 years of age.
• Aggravated assault that caused serious physical injury.

Police are working with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to add homicide to Modrzejewski’s criminal charges.

No further details were made available.

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