Tempe police involved in shooting near Arizona State’s main campus
Nov 20, 2018, 1:14 PM | Updated: Nov 21, 2018, 2:49 pm
PHOENIX — Tempe police were involved in a shooting near Arizona State University’s main campus on Tuesday.
The department said officers were OK after the shooting, which occurred in the area of University Drive and Farmer Avenue.
We are working an officer involved shooting. Officers are ok. The media staging area will be southwest corner of University & Farmer. pic.twitter.com/o7U3yp14zd
— Tempe Police (@TempePolice) November 20, 2018
The suspect involved, who was later identified as 31-year-old Michael Dunkum, was tracked by officers with help from U.S. Marshals.
The officers confronted Dunkum as he walked west of Ash Street on Ninth Avenue.
When Dunkum started running from police, an officer fired a “less lethal” beanbag bullet that hit him, but he continued to run.
Dunkum was then seen attempting to reach into his backpack, which officers perceived to be him reaching for a weapon. There was no weapon that was found, Det. Lily Duran said.
Another officer fired his weapon toward Dunkum, but he was not shot. He was eventually taken into custody.
Dunkum had two felony warrants out for his arrest in Colorado for violating probation and pending charges in connection to a stalking case.
It was not clear whether the suspect was armed at the time of the shooting or if he threatened officers.
The suspect was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. He has since been booked into jail.
It was the second officer-involved shooting in the Valley on Tuesday.
A suspect was dead after a shooting involving U.S. Marshals in Phoenix. Phoenix police were investigating.
