ARIZONA NEWS

Gun violence study shows Phoenix with high rate of fatal shootings by police

Mar 10, 2023, 11:59 AM

(Pexels Photo)...

(Pexels Photo)

(Pexels Photo)

PHOENIX — A new study shows that Phoenix has the highest rate of fatal shootings by police departments out of the nation’s 10 largest cities.

The findings were part of a wide-ranging report on gun violence compiled over the last eight months and released Thursday by the Arizona Public Health Association.

In a chilling coincidence, Phoenix officers were involved in shootings four of the five days before the results were released. Two suspects were killed, and one was seriously injured. Another wasn’t hit.

The report says the rate of fatal police shootings for 2015-21 was 8.2 per million residents in Phoenix, well ahead of San Antonio, which was next at 5.1 per million. Los Angeles was third at 3.9 per million.

Tucson and Mesa, which aren’t among the nation’s 10 most populous cities, also had higher rates than San Antonio.

Will Humble, Arizona Public Health Association executive director, said the report documents the statistics, but it doesn’t delve into the causes.

But he has some ideas, he told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Gaydos and Chad Show, citing two factors.

First, Arizona has loose gun laws.

“That leads to more frequent encounters with bad guys who are not supposed to have guns,” he said.

Humble also suggested there’s less accountability for police in Arizona than other places where guns are easily obtained, including Texas.

“There’s an issue with accountability when deadly force is used in terms of having an honest assessment of … how well were the rules of engagement adhered to,” he said.

Humble, a former director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, said the report provides important information that the state agency doesn’t track.

“We spent the last eight months putting this together in hopes that over the course of time policymakers will start referring to the surveillance data to help make better public policy decisions in Arizona,” he said.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Tempe City Hall...

KTAR.com

Maricopa County approves $10.8 million for affordable housing in Tempe

Tempe is planning a new development with $10.8 million in funding from Maricopa County.

21 minutes ago

An Arizona woman got a huge shock when surveillance footage showed the thief who stole her backyard...

Associated Press

Fox snatcher: Footage shows furry intruder swiped cameras from Arizona backyard

An Arizona woman got a huge shock when surveillance footage showed the thief who stole her backyard cameras was four-legged and fluffy-tailed.

3 hours ago

A man died and a suspect was on the loose after an early morning shooting in Phoenix on Dec. 8, 202...

KTAR.com

1 dead, suspect unknown after early morning shooting in Phoenix

A man died and a suspect was on the loose after an early morning shooting in Phoenix on Friday, authorities said.

4 hours ago

Two immigrants from Ecuador walk past a sign showing the mileage to Why and Gila Bend after crossin...

Kevin Stone

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs unveils border security initiative, pushes President Joe Biden to act

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs unveiled Operation SECURE, an initiative to mobilize state resources to address border security issues.

5 hours ago

Immigrants line up at a remote U.S. Border Patrol processing center after crossing the U.S.-Mexico ...

Jim Sharpe

I’m suffering from BCM: Border Cynicism Syndrome

KTAR News host Jim Sharpe is cynical of tangible solutions coming to the border situation at Arizona's Lukeville Port of Entry and beyond.

6 hours ago

Migrants line up at a remote U.S. Border Patrol processing center after crossing the U.S.-Mexico bo...

Kevin Stone

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs to assess shuttered Lukeville Port of Entry in person

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said she plans to visit Lukeville on Saturday to assess the situation after federal officials closed the port of entry there.

7 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Dierdre Woodruff

Interest rates may have peaked. Should you buy a CD, high-yield savings account, or a fixed annuity?

Interest rates are the highest they’ve been in decades, and it looks like the Fed has paused hikes. This may be the best time to lock in rates for long-term, low-risk financial products like fixed annuities.

Follow @KTAR923...

West Hunsaker at Morris Hall supports Make-A-Wish Foundation in Arizona

KTAR's Community Spotlight this month focuses on Morris Hall and its commitment to supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Arizona.

...

SCHWARTZ LASER EYE CENTER

Key dates for Arizona sports fans to look forward to this fall

Fall brings new beginnings in different ways for Arizona’s professional sports teams like the Cardinals and Coyotes.

Gun violence study shows Phoenix with high rate of fatal shootings by police