Police Stand-Off Ends In Death Of Suicidal Woman
December 2, 2008
On December 2, 2008 at 8:27 PM Mesa Police officers were
dispatched to a residence at 1610 N. Sawyer in reference to an
adult female who was suicidal. The women has been identified as
43 year old Mesa resident, Debra Bruneault.
It was reported that she was sitting in her running vehicle
inside the closed garage. Officers were able to make contact
with Bruneault inside the garage and she displayed a handgun to
the officers. She refused to drop the weapon and officers were
able to back out of the house and evacuate the other two
residents for their safety. Once they were outside, the officers
heard what sounded like gunfire coming from inside the
residence. They quickly evacuated residents surrounding the home
and requested Mesa Police Tactical Team respond to the scene.
The Tactical Team was able to establish communication with
Bruneault and began negotiations with her. They were attempting
to get Bruneault to exit the house and surrender without
incident. During negations she was extremely irrational and
threatened to kill herself. Officers could see her inside the
home with a handgun pointed at her head. Several attempts were
made to convince her to exit the house and surrender, but she
remained inside. Bruneault was seen by SWAT officers as she
fired in the direction of police officers out the open front
door of the residence. A patrol vehicle parked in front of the
residence was struck by the round. No officers were injured.
Negotiations continued and she eventually exited the house and
pointed her handgun in the direction of the SWAT officers. SWAT
Officers fired their weapons striking Bruneault ending the
standoff. Waiting paramedics worked on Bruneault and she was
transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead a
short time later.
The investigation is ongoing and is expected to go on throughout
the day.