Phoenix man fatally shot by police officer

A man was fatally shot by Phoenix police when he pointed a gun at officers during a Sunday morning foot pursuit, police said.

The shooting occurred about 3 a.m. Sunday near an empty parking lot by 67th Avenue and McDowell Road, said Sgt. Steve Martos, of the Phoenix Police Department.

Patrol officers initially tried to stop two suspects in a 2001 GMC Denali after observing suspicious behavior and a minor traffic violation.

The vehicle fled, but was sighted shortly after by other officers on patrol who also attempted to make the vehicle stop.

The car fled and collided with a median near 67th Avenue and McDowell Road.

Two suspects fled the scene on foot into a vacant lot, where Martos said two officers were able to detain the passenger of the GMC Denali.

A third patrol officer and an off-duty uniformed police officer, who heard of the pursuit on a radio, chased the driver of the vehicle on foot.

Martos said the driver disobeyed orders to stop and instead grabbed a handgun from his waist.

"He retrieved a handgun and pointed it at the officers who fired their weapons," Martos said.

The driver, who has not been identified, was declared dead at the scene. The other suspect was taken to a local hospital with a minor injury received from the collision.

No officers injured.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2010/10/17/20101017phoenix-officer-shooting-man-killed.html