Phoenix Shared Critical Incident Briefing: Officer-Involved Shooting Near 48th Street And Baseline Road

Phoenix AZ

28 January, 2021

5:03 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Phoenix: January 26, 2021 Please be advised, the attached video may contain strong language as well as graphic images which may be disturbing to some people. Viewer discretion is advised. The Phoenix Police Department released a Critical Incident Briefing (CIB) video that includes audio, visuals and information related to an officer-involved shooting which occurred just after midnight on January 12, 2021 in the area of 48th Street and Baseline Road. This incident started when patrol officers saw a car matching the description of a vehicle which had fled from Phoenix Police on prior occasions. The officers did not attempt to stop the vehicle, and lost sight of it. A short time later, officers saw the vehicle again and requested the assistance of the police helicopter. The driver parked in a business parking lot. As officers arrived, they recognized him as the same driver from the prior incidents. The officers learned the driver had an outstanding felony warrant for drugs and money laundering. He was identified as 23-year-old Antonio Carbajal. Before attempting to stop the vehicle, officers waited for the police helicopter to come over head due to Carbajal's prior failure to stop. The police helicopter arrived overhead and shinned its spotlight on the vehicle as a fully marked patrol car approached with its overhead red and blue emergency lights activated to initiate a traffic stop. Carbajal disregarded the officers and fled in his vehicle. No patrol officers pursued him, instead the police helicopter followed him. Carbajal drove to a resort in the area of 52nd Street and Baseline where he eventually parked the vehicle, exited and ran from the area. "Guys, he's out of the vehicle, he's on the east side, he's running, uh, towards the resort here, east side," the helicopter officer told ground units as Carbajal ran under some trees. "I just lost him under the trees here, units just keep coming east." Patrol units were directed to the area and located a man matching Carbajal's description running through a parking lot. Three officers chased after him on foot. As the first officer caught up to him, Carbajal armed himself with a handgun, and he and the officer struggled over the firearm. The other two officers saw Carbajal armed with the gun and struggling with the officer, that is when both officers fired at Carbajal, striking him. Officers rendered medical aid while they waited for Phoenix Fire personnel to arrive. Carbajal was pronounced deceased on scene by the Phoenix Fire Department. Officers recovered Carbajal's handgun at the scene. There were no serious injuries to officers or other community members. There were two officers involved in the shooting. Both are assigned to the South Mountain Precinct. The officers are 29 and 24-years-old and have 2 and 3 years of service with the Phoenix Police Department. This incident is the subject of both an internal and a criminal investigation, which will be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Conclusions about whether the actions of the officers are consistent with department policy and the law will not be made until all facts are known and the investigation is complete. This press release was produced by the City of Phoenix. The views expressed here are the author's own.