GUADALUPE, AZ — A man was shot and killed in the Town of Guadalupe Wednesday, May 18 by members of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office SWAT team.
MCSO says the incident began around 1:30 p.m. near Avenida Del Yaqui and Calle Pitaya when they were called out for a man, identified as 37-year-old Rolando Rojas, acting erratically and discharging a gun in close proximity to Frank Elementary School. Investigators say Rojas fired at least 10 shots.
The school was put into lockdown.
When deputies arrived, the man was reportedly on the front porch of a residence still armed. MCSO says that home faces the elementary school.
Authorities launched a drone in an effort to get a visual perspective on the subject, who then reportedly fired multiple shots at the drone.
The MCSO and Tempe SWAT teams then responded and set up a perimeter around the home. MCSO says the man then fired shots toward the MCSO SWAT team, who returned fire killing him.
Sheriff Paul Penzone said the gun Rojas was firing was stolen the day before out of a vehicle in Tempe. The gun belonged to a Phoenix police officer.
Rojas had previously been booked for multiple violations on 19 different occasions, according to Sheriff Penzone.
No deputies were injured in the situation.
DPS and Tempe Police Deparment also responded to the scene to assist MCSO.
No further details have been released at this time.
