Phoenix police officers shot and wounded a man armed with a knife after a tense confrontation in a residential neighborhood, authorities said. The incident occurred late Tuesday evening near 27th Avenue and Thomas Road, following reports of a man threatening people in the area.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, officers were called to the scene around 10:15 p.m. after multiple 911 callers reported a man walking in traffic and brandishing a large knife. When officers arrived, they found a man matching the description near a bus stop, still holding the weapon.
Police said the officers repeatedly ordered the man to drop the knife, but he refused to comply. Body camera footage, which will be reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation, reportedly shows officers attempting to de-escalate the situation for several minutes. At one point, the man moved toward officers, prompting one officer to fire his weapon.
The man, whose identity has not yet been released, was struck and taken to a nearby hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. No officers were injured during the incident.
In a briefing on Wednesday morning, Phoenix Police spokesperson Sgt. Philip Krynsky said the department’s Use of Force Review Board would evaluate the officers’ actions once the criminal investigation is complete. “Officers responded to a dangerous and unpredictable situation,” Krynsky said. “They used verbal commands and less-lethal options before one officer discharged his firearm to stop the threat.”
Witnesses at the scene described a chaotic moment that unfolded quickly. One nearby resident, Maria Lopez, said she saw flashing lights and heard officers shouting before gunshots rang out. “They kept telling him to drop the knife,” she said. “He didn’t listen. It was really scary.”
Police confirmed that a less-lethal tool, believed to be a Taser, was deployed before the shooting, but it was unclear whether it made contact or had any effect. Investigators recovered the knife at the scene and collected video evidence from nearby surveillance cameras.
The shooting adds to the growing number of officer-involved shootings in Phoenix this year. The department has faced scrutiny in recent years for its high rate of such incidents compared to other major U.S. cities. Police officials have said they are working to expand crisis intervention and mental health response teams to handle situations involving armed or distressed individuals.
As standard procedure, the officer who fired the weapon has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The case will also be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Community advocates have called for transparency and the release of body camera footage as soon as possible. “The public deserves to see what happened and understand how this situation escalated,” said local activist James Carter.
While the investigation continues, police urged the public to remember that officers must make split-second decisions in life-threatening situations. “Our goal is always to preserve life,” Sgt. Krynsky said. “Unfortunately, sometimes people put us in positions where we have to act to protect ourselves and others.”
Authorities expect to release additional information as the investigation develops.
