Mesa police fatally shoot suspect who allegedly pulled out air gun
Mar 23, 2022, 5:48 AM | Updated: 1:33 pm
(Twitter Photo/Mesa Police Department)
(Twitter Photo/Mesa Police Department)
PHOENIX — Police from Mesa fatally shot a suspect who they said pulled an air gun on them following a chase that ended in Chandler on Tuesday evening, authorities said.
Alberto Noriega, 27, allegedly stole a motorcycle and was riding south toward Chandler at about 6:55 p.m. when a Mesa police vehicle attempted a traffic stop, Chandler Police Sgt. Jason McClimans said in an email Wednesday.
Noriega sped away with officers in pursuit until he stopped at a trailer park near Chandler Boulevard and McQueen Road, police said.
An officer hit Noriega with a less-lethal shotgun round before a second officer used a Taser on the suspect, according to police.
Noriega then reached for the black, semi-automatic replica gun from his waistband and was shot by three officers, police said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
No officers or community members were injured in the incident.
The Chandler Police Department is conducting the investigation.
It was the fifth shooting of the year by Mesa police and 15th overall by law enforcement in the Valley.
