West Phoenix officer-involved shooting leaves suspect hospitalized after reported knife attack on police officer
What happened
A suspect was hospitalized after an officer-involved shooting in west Phoenix following a police response to calls about a man reportedly in crisis and armed with weapons. The shooting occurred in the area of Missouri Avenue and the 39th Avenue corridor, after officers re-contacted the man in an alley near Missouri Avenue and 40th Drive.
Police were first called to the neighborhood at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday after a woman reported her brother was using drugs and hallucinating. Officers made contact but left after determining no crime had been committed and the man declined medical help. Roughly 90 minutes later, at about 1 a.m., police received another call reporting the same man was armed with a knife and a staple gun and walking around the neighborhood; the caller said a nearby party heightened concern about a possible confrontation.
Sequence of events described by police
Officers later located the man near an alley and ordered him to put down the weapons. Police said he set down the staple gun but continued moving toward officers as they backed away. During the encounter, police said the man grabbed a female officer and attacked her with a knife. The officer pushed him away and fired her weapon when he advanced again.
After the gunfire and a brief struggle, the man was detained. He was taken to a hospital with gunshot injuries.
Injuries and immediate public-safety impact
The suspect was transported to a hospital with gunshot wounds.
Police reported no officer injuries in the incident.
Authorities said no additional suspects were being sought.
What is known—and what is not
Police have described the call history, the location of the confrontation, and the actions they say preceded the shooting, including the allegation that the suspect attacked an officer with a knife. However, key details remain unclear, including the suspect’s identity, whether any criminal charges will be filed, and what evidence will be used to assess the officer’s decision to fire.
As with other officer-involved shootings in Phoenix, investigative reviews typically examine witness accounts, physical evidence, and any available recordings, including body-worn camera video if it exists. Findings from such reviews can take weeks or months, depending on the complexity of the case.
The incident unfolded over two calls for service within roughly a two-hour window, escalating from a welfare-related concern to a reported armed encounter that ended in gunfire.
What happens next
The investigation is expected to determine the circumstances of the confrontation, the suspect’s condition and potential charges, and whether the use of force complied with policy and law. Additional information is typically released as investigators complete interviews and evidence review.