On Saturday, July 4, 2020, shortly before 1:00 pm, Phoenix Police Officers responded to the area of 5600 West Glenrosa Avenue after 911 received a call regarding an aggravated assault from the week prior where the suspect who had stabbed the caller was back in the area, threatened him, and tried to stab him again. The caller said that in addition to the suspect who stabbed him, there was another one armed with a gun. Officers made contact with several subjects including one who was inside a vehicle in the driveway. After talking with the subject in the vehicle for approximately 10 minutes and asking him to get out of the vehicle so they cold secure the scene. He refused, rolled up the windows and pulled out a gun. Officers gave the subject numerous verbal commands to drop the gun, however he refused and told the officers to shoot him, before raising the gun and pointing it towards the officers. Faced with a lethal threat, officers used lethal force to protect themselves. After retrieving a handgun from the subject’s lap, officers removed him from the vehicle to perform first aid until Phoenix Fire Department personnel were able to enter the scene and transport him to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Instead of waiting for a complete and thorough investigation, District 8 Council Member Carlos Garcia chose to stoke the fires of hate and immediately jumped to conclusions about what had occurred.
CLICK HERE to read PLEA’s statement regarding this incident and Council Member Garcia’s inflammatory comments.