Mesa Police Investigate Officer Involved Shooting
June 8, 2008
On Sunday, June 8, 2008 at 5:03 a.m., Mesa Police received a 911
call from a male who stated his girlfriend was afraid of him. A
female voice got on the telephone and appeared to by crying. The
dispatcher could not hear clearly what the female was attempting
to tell police.
Officers responded to an apartment complex located at 1415 N.
Country Club, where they located a female in the parking lot.
The two officers immediately noticed the female had an injury to
her head. The 29-year-old female told police her boyfriend
pushed her and hit her in the head. The female was then
transported to a local hospital for her injuries.
Two officers began canvassing the area in an attempt to locate
the female's boyfriend. The officers made contact at the
apartment where the male and female lived. The officers located
the male inside the apartment and noticed he was holding a
handgun. The subject was ordered to put the handgun down and
refused to do so. Officers, fearing for their lives and for the
safety of the community, used fatal force as a last resort when
the subject pointed the handgun at them.
Lifesaving efforts at the scene were unsuccessful and the
25-year-old Native American male was pronounced deceased on
scene by Mesa Fire Department. None of the officers were injured
during the incident.
The Native American male has not yet been positively identified.
Once the male is positively identified and next of kin
notification is made, his name will be released.
This investigation is on-going. There is no other information
available at this time.