Media Release - Officer Involved Shooting

On January 18, 2016 at approximately 9:20 p.m., Mesa Police Officers responded to 6530 E. Superstition Springs Blvd., the La Quinta Inn, for a report of a subject pointing a rifle out of an upstairs room window.
 
Arriving officers learned that two guests, who were in the pool area, reported seeing a male subject pointing a rifle out the window of a room several floors above the pool. Based on their information, officers located the suspected room on the fifth floor. Officers went to the room and began giving verbal commands for the occupants to come out. A male and female exited the room and were given verbal commands in the hallway. The female was detained first without a struggle. Officers then began giving commands to the male, but he was not fully complying. He began reaching towards his lower back where officers could not see his hands. The male continued to reach towards his lower back several times and was given additional commands to not reach behind him and not conceal his hands.
 
Based on the initial report of the suspect having a gun, not complying with commands and reaching behind his body, the officer felt threatened and discharged his weapon striking the suspect. Mesa Fire and Medical responded, checked the suspect, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
 
The investigation is ongoing and further details will follow as they become available.