Suspect injured in officer-involved shooting at a Tempe motel
Jul 18, 2014, 7:40 PM | Updated: Jul 21, 2014, 3:39 pm
TEMPE, Ariz. — Police in Tempe said there was a
shooting at a motel Friday evening.
Police said the shooting occurred about 6:30 p.m. at the Motel 6 at 1612 N.
Scottsdale Road.
Officers were responding to a call about a suspect involved in
an domestic violence incident at the motel Thursday night. The suspect is 25-year-old Jonathan L. Williams, a Kansas and Florida resident, who allegedly assaulted his 24-year-old girlfriend on Thursday.
“Police received information that (the suspect) was believed to be armed with some sort of firearm, and if contacted by law enforcement he would shoot,” Tempe Police Lt. Scott Smith said.
Williams was reported to be in the lobby, and when a Tempe Police contact team spotted him, he allegedly pointed a firearm at officers and began shooting.
“During that contact, the suspect did something to force the officers to react,” Smith said. “The officers felt in fear for their safety or the safety of others and opened fire on the suspect. The suspect was struck and found to be in possession of a firearm.”
Authorities said a cover officer returned fire from outside the lobby and struck Williams, who was the only person in the lobby at the time.
Police said Williams was taken to a local hospital in extremely critical condition and is not expected to recover.
No other injuries were reported.
The officer who shot Williams is on paid administrative leave.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
