MCSO shoots, kills suspect who allegedly fired at Phoenix firefighters
Sep 16, 2019, 5:31 PM | Updated: Sep 17, 2019, 7:40 am
PHOENIX — A man shot and killed by Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies Friday night was suspected of shooting at Phoenix firefighters during a robbery attempt the previous night, authorities said Monday.
Elijah Boatley, 20, was shot in a parking lot near 48th Street and Broadway Road in Phoenix after brandishing a gun at approaching deputies, Sheriff Paul Penzone said during a press conference Monday. He later died of his injuries.
A toddler was found in the vehicle unharmed following the shooting, according to Penzone.
“He closed the door, turned on the deputies, brandished a firearm, at which point both non-lethal and lethal force was delivered,” Penzone said.
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Boatley and Matthew Marquez, 18, were wanted after physical evidence recovered at Fire Station 58 near 47th Avenue and Dobbins Road in Laveen Village linked them to a shooting and robbery attempt from Thursday night, Penzone said.
Marquez was arrested Friday without incident and identified Boatley as the other suspect in Thursday’s incident, according to Penzone.
Phoenix police said Friday that one of the men had tried to break into firefighters’ personal vehicles around 8:30 p.m. the previous night.
When firefighters returning from a call caught the man, the other man began to shoot at them before fleeing.
Penzone said three shots struck the fire station and that no firefighters were injured.
This was the 26th officer-involved shooting in the Valley this year.
