Officer shoots suspect running from police across US 60 in Mesa
An officer shot a suspect who was running from police on a Mesa freeway Sunday afternoon.
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PHOENIX – An officer shot a suspect who was running from police on a Mesa freeway Sunday afternoon, authorities said.
The 37-year-old man was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive his injuries, according to the Mesa Police Department.
US 60 was closed in both directions between the Loop 101 Price Freeway and Country Club Road throughout the night while the scene was under investigation. It reopened by Monday morning, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
The incident started around 4 p.m. Sunday when police responded to a call about a man making threats with knife at an apartment complex on Country Club Drive south of Broadway Road.
The suspect drove away in a blue truck as officers arrived at the complex and eventually turned onto the westbound US 60 on-ramp at Alma School Road.
Police then used a PIT (pursuit intervention technique) maneuver — tapping the vehicle from behind to make it spin out — to stop the truck.
What prompted officer to shoot suspect?
The suspect got out and ran across US 60. After he jumped the median into the eastbound lanes, he allegedly reached for his waistband. That prompted one officer to shoot him, police said.
He was given medical aid at the scene before being taken to a hospital for surgery.
The Gilbert Police Department is investigating the police shooting as part of the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team.
This is an updated version of a story originally published on Aug. 10, 2025.
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Comments
3 Comments
''he allegedly reached for his waistband''
Please, someone help Joe Citizen understand...
a woman beats a cop with a crowbar on the head--lives to see another day.
Charles Ryan points a gun at police--nothing.
No charges were brought up against him for weeks, eventually--I think he got a scolding!?!
Innocent deaf man gets roughed up for ignoring police commands and winds up in jail for several weeks.
Then, we have this guy, shot while running away--I assume in the back???
Is it just me, but we seem to have a wide variation in procedures and policies when using lethal force.
Also, it should be noted, this article says nothing about a weapon being found on the man after ''allegedly reaching for his waist.''
Pulling up his pants?
Just trying to connect the dots with the limited information this article provides.
Yeah, it is like the hunters on South Park. You just have to yell, "There're coming right at us" and you can shoot all you want.
Cut and paste journalism at it's finished.