LAVEEN, AZ — One person is dead after a shooting involving Goodyear and Buckeye police officers Thursday afternoon near 75th and Southern avenues.
Officials with the Goodyear Police Department say it happened when officers were in the process of apprehending an adult suspect from a previous robbery that took place at a smoke shop in Goodyear on January 15.
Officers tried to take the suspect into custody with the help of a Buckeye SWAT team, but the suspect ran away from officers.
He was tracked to the area of 75th Avenue and Southern where officials say less lethal means, pepper balls, were used to attempt to apprehend him.
Those means did not work and escalated to a lethal confrontation, Goodyear police officials said.
The suspect was shot by officers and died at the scene. It is unknown if Goodyear, Buckeye, or officers from both departments shot at the suspect.
A handgun was recovered at the scene near the suspect, police said.
ABC15 spoke to the clerk who was working at the smoke shop at the time of Sunday's robbery. He said it was a pretty normal sale when it quickly took a turn.
"He said that he left his wallet in the car so he went out to get his wallet," said Andrew Findley. "I wrapped up what he was getting and when I looked up at the register, I had a gun in my face."
Findley said he was mainly focused on staying calm and giving the man what he wanted.
"I said, 'Oh okay,' and then just emptied the drawer and gave it to him."
The suspect killed has not been named by police.
The Glendale Police Department has taken over the investigation.
