Officers in Phoenix fatally shoot suspect after struggle with weapon
May 9, 2019, 6:21 AM | Updated: May 10, 2019, 7:32 am
PHOENIX — Police in Phoenix said officers fatally shot a suspect early Thursday morning after responding to a trespassing call.
The suspect was shot near Seventh Avenue and Buckeye Road, Sgt. Vince Lewis said in an email.
He was identified Friday as 29-year-old Hector Lopez.
Two officers were responding to a trespassing call around 4 a.m. Thursday when they approached a parked Lincoln Town Car and found a man and woman sitting inside.
The man opened the car door and a handgun fell to the ground. Police told him not to touch it, but he “suddenly dove toward the gun and grabbed it,” Lewis said.
An officer punched the suspect and used a Taser on him after he refused to let go of the gun then turned and pointed the gun at police.
Both officers fired at the suspect, who was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital.
BREAKING: #Phoenix police say male suspect is DEAD after officer-involved shooting involving two officers. They were called out here for a trespassing call when this happened near 7th Avenue and Buckeye. #abc15 pic.twitter.com/OXzyt2N0dn
— Megan Thompson (@MeganABC15) May 9, 2019
The woman was taken into custody and was to be booked into jail on an unrelated felony warrant.
The officers, who suffered minor injuries in the incident, were only identified as a 25-year-old male with three years of service and a 33-year-old male with two years of service.
It was the 19th officer-involved shooting in the Valley of the year and seventh in Phoenix.
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All the shootings in Phoenix have been fatal.
No other information was immediately available.
