Larry Naman banned from Phoenix City Council, other city buildings

PHOENIX — Larry Naman, who shot former Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox when the city was debating about using tax funds to build the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball stadium in 1997, has been barred from Phoenix City Hall and several other other city buildings.

Phoenix Police said in an email to KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday that Naman had been issued a formal trespass notice.

“The Phoenix Police Department has reviewed the statements made by Mr. Larry Naman at yesterday’s City Council meeting. While concerning, they do not rise to the level of criminal conduct,” police spokesman Sgt. Armando Carbajal said in the email.

Naman and Wilcox attended the meeting Wednesday, when the council was scheduled to vote on a $235 million proposal to renovate Talking Stick Resort Arena, home of the Phoenix Suns. Taxpayers will put in $150 million.

Naman spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting. He referred to his shooting of Wilcox — for which he served 12 years of prison time — and said that if the council did not allow the public to vote on the agreement, it would be the “equivalent to a bloody act of violence against the public.”

After he finished, Councilman Michael Nowakowski apologized to Wilcox.

“She did what she thought was right, and we as elected officials have to vote on tough issues and we shouldn’t be threatened,” Nowakowski said at the meeting. His remarks were met with applause.

He later issued a request to police that Naman be banned from city council chamber, citing the man as a threat.

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