Suspect shot by Glendale police during burglary attempt dies
May 4, 2021, 3:12 PM
Mariano Villegas (Glendale police photo)
(Glendale police photo)
PHOENIX — A suspect shot by Glendale police during a burglary attempt on Monday has died, authorities said.
Mariano Villegas, 45, died at a hospital after he was shot by an officer during the incident at a home near 59th and Northern avenues, Glendale Sgt. Tiffany Ngalula said in an email.
Police responded to the in-progress burglary at about 8 a.m. and found Villegas in the garage, Ngalula said.
Villegas barricaded himself in a vehicle in the garage and told police they were going to have to shoot him, Ngalula said.
RELATED STORIES
A SWAT team arrived and attempted to negotiate a peaceful surrender and was unsuccessful, according to Ngalula.
Villegas jumped out of the vehicle with hand tools that included screwdrivers and charged at one of the officers, who shot him, Ngalula said.
The officer said he feared for his life and the lives of his team, according to Ngalula.
No officers were injured during the incident. The officer who shot the man was placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
It was the third shooting of the year involving Glendale police and 19th overall by law enforcement, according to KTAR News 92.3 FM research.
