Phoenix Releases Bodycam Video Of Early April Police Shooting

Phoenix AZ

16 April, 2021

3:21 PM

Description

PHOENIX, AZ — Phoenix Police released body camera footage from an early April police shooting that occurred in the Maryvale community of West Phoenix. The police shooting, which occurred after 8 a.m. on April 3 near the intersection of 75th Avenue and Indian School Road, killed 26-year-old Jose Arenas, police said. Police allege that Arenas threatened multiple people with a handgun and attempted to rob them, before fleeing the scene, authorities said. From there, an officer located and chased Arenas through a nearby restaurant, where police say he pointed his gun and assaulted two customers. In the footage released by Phoenix Police on Friday, Arenas can be seen pointing a gun at the responding officer multiple times as he crawled behind a seating area divider. The Phoenix Police officer can be heard shouting at Arenas to drop his gun several times on the footage, including just before the fatal shooting. Police said the responding officer, who police only identified as having served with the department for two years, told Arenas to drop his weapon, with Arenas ignoring his command. The officer shot Arenas after that, with the suspect dying from his wounds at a nearby hospital, police said. An internal investigation into the officer's actions is underway, the department said. The case is also being reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, police said.