Phoenix police fatally shot two suspects in separate domestic violence incidents within a 12-hour window on October 25 and 26, 2024. Both encounters involved armed individuals who refused to comply with officer commands, according to the Phoenix Police Department. No officers were injured in either shooting.
Incident at 43rd Avenue and Cactus Road
The first fatal shooting occurred shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Friday, October 25. Officers responded to a domestic violence call at a residence near 43rd Avenue and Cactus Road.
According to Phoenix Police, the suspect was armed with a handgun when officers arrived. Police reported that the man pointed the firearm at officers, prompting them to discharge their weapons. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators recovered the suspect’s handgun from the location.
Fatal Encounter on North 19th Avenue
Less than 12 hours later, on the morning of Saturday, October 26, a second fatal officer-involved shooting took place near 19th Avenue and Bell Road.
Police were called to the area regarding a domestic violence situation involving a man who had allegedly violated an order of protection. Upon arrival, officers encountered the suspect, who was reportedly armed with a knife. According to local reports confirmed by department spokespeople, the suspect moved toward officers while holding the weapon. Officers fired their duty weapons, striking the man. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Standard Investigative Protocols
The Phoenix Police Department maintains a standard operating procedure for all officer-involved shootings. Each incident is subject to a dual-track investigation:
- Criminal Investigation: Conducted by the department’s Professional Standards Bureau, this investigation reviews the use of force to determine if it aligns with state law and department policy.
- Administrative Review: A separate internal review examines officer tactics and adherence to training guidelines.
Following these investigations, the findings are submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for an independent review of the use of force. The names of the deceased suspects are typically released by the department after next-of-kin notification.
Contextualizing Domestic Violence Calls
Domestic violence calls are classified by law enforcement agencies as "high-risk" encounters. According to data from the National Institute of Justice, officers responding to domestic disturbances face an increased likelihood of encountering armed suspects compared to other types of service calls.
In both Phoenix cases, the presence of weapons—a firearm in the first instance and a knife in the second—dictated the officers’ tactical response. The department has not yet released the body-worn camera footage of these incidents, though such footage is typically released following the completion of initial investigative steps and internal redaction processes.
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