Critical Incident Briefing - September 28, 2025 - 35th Ave and W Bell Rd

WARNING: 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 has released a Critical Incident Briefing (CIB) video that includes audio, visuals and information related to an officer-involved shooting (OIS) which occurred on September 28, 2025, near 35th Avenue and W Bell Road.

This incident began around 9:45 a.m. when officers received a call of a suicidal man, who had also fired a shot inside his apartment. The caller told the 911 operator that a man in a nearby apartment pointed a gun at himself, then fired one round inside his apartment.

After arriving on scene around 10 a.m., officers started evacuating nearby apartments while containing the man inside his unit and began attempts to talk with the man.

Special Assignments Unit (SAU) negotiators, trained in crisis intervention, later responded to the scene and took over the negotiations. SAU members also took over control of the scene.

Around 3:45 p.m., SAU sent a drone into the apartment and saw the man holding a handgun in his right hand while leaving his apartment.

Once the man left his apartment, he walked toward SAU officers with the gun still in his hand and did not respond when ordered to drop the weapon. This is when the officer-involved shooting occurred.

SAU officers approached the man to provide first aid. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

The officer involved in the shooting is assigned to the Special Assignments Unit and has been with the department for six years.

This incident is the subject of a criminal investigation being conducted by the Department of Public Safety’s Major Incident Division.

The investigation will be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. It is also the subject of an administrative investigation being conducted by the Phoenix Police Department.

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.