Phoenix police commander killed, 2 officers injured after shooting in north Phoenix

PHOENIX — A Phoenix police commander died and two other officers were injured Sunday night after they were shot during a domestic dispute in the north Valley.

Phoenix police Commander Greg Carnicle was shot after police responded to the scene near 39th Drive, which is near 43rd Avenue, and Pinnacle Peak Road around 7 p.m.

The suspect, who was barricaded inside a home nearby, was shot and killed late Sunday night.

One of the two surviving officers, 23-year-old Marissa Dowhan, is out of surgery and is expected to be okay, police say. The other surviving officer, 22-year-old Alicia Hubert, was shot in the lower extremities and is also expected to recover. Police say the officers had between two and three years experience with the department.

Sgt. Mercedes Fortune said at a Sunday night press conference that the incident began when officers arrived for calls reporting a dispute between roommates. When officers arrived, they started speaking with one of the roommates, who was said to be acting erratically.

Officers told the suspect, identified Monday as 22-year-old Jacob Emry Mcilveen, that he had to leave and helped him move some things out of the home.

Police say Mcilveen was cooperative at first and then tried to shut the officers out, refusing to leave.

Additional officers were called to the scene, and officers Dowhan, Hubert and Commander Carnicle went up the stairs to the residence where the suspect was shut inside. When they went inside, the suspect opened fire, striking all three officers.

Other officers at the scene had to get the three injured officers out of the home.

Commander Carnicle was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Police remained at the scene in hopes Mcilveen would surrender. Hours later, he reportedly exited the home with a handgun, and officers shot him. Mcilveen was pronounced dead at the scene.

A roommate told ABC15 that Mcilveen had lived in the home since September, along with four other adults and a newborn baby. The roommate, who did not want to be identified, said Mcilveen was quiet and an aspiring musician - but recently had started acting "paranoid" and "casually mentioned having a gun."

The erratic behavior and mention of the weapon led roommates to feel unsafe and they asked Mcilveen to leave. They even called 911 for police to help remove him, which eventually led to Mcilveen slamming the door on officers, then firing shots as officers walked up the stairs.

Mcilveen had a very limited presence on social media, according to research done by ABC15 and his roommate. The 22-year-old was arrested in 2016 in Cochise County for DUI and possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. He was 18 years old at the time.

Police say Commander Carnicle, 56, was a 31-year veteran of the force and was just months away from retiring. He was married with a wife and four adult children.

According to the department, "Commander Carnicle was very well liked among his fellow officers. He was known for his dry sense of humor and his direct, yet caring style."

During his career, he held positions throughout the department, including the special assignments unit and K9 unit. He chose to work out in the field and help his fellow officers, working nights and weekend to oversee patrol operations.

Sgt. Fortune said Monday morning that Commander Carnicle "loved being a police officer." She said, "he wanted to be leading the operations for patrol…he really wanted to do that job.”

Phoenix police Chief Jeri Williams said Sunday evening, "Tonight we lost a true hero. To be able to stand here today and say that one of my good friends is lost is troubling."

Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) President Britt London said Carnicle was a "great leader" and remembered having Commander Carnicle as a boss when he was an officer. London told ABC15 he will never forget what Carnicle did when his young daughter was hospitalized.

"It really worried me that I was going to disappoint Sgt. Carnicle, at that time. But he showed up at the hospital with a teddy bear for my daughter and he sat there and he talked to us, and he talked about his kids," said London. "He said this is your family, this is what’s important."

COMMUNITY REACTION:

"We heard gunshots and then we heard screaming," said Kamryn Gutierrez, who was staying down the street.

"There were 60 to 80 cop cars, I units, undercover units. Police officers with guns," said Justin Zolecki, who lives nearby.

Lauren Larson lives near the home where Phoenix police say Mcilveen shot and killed Commander Greg Carnicle.

"I heard gunshots go off, I heard sirens coming, it was just insane," said Larson. "Heard this big boom, it scared the crap out of me, it was terrifying."

Larson got video from her rooftop showing dozens of police officers, SWAT teams and a chopper telling people to go inside their homes.

"And they were like 'this is the Phoenix Police Department we need everyone inside, there's an active shooter,''" said Larson.

Phoenix police told people in nearby homes to evacuate. Justin Zolecki was with his family and had to leave for hours.

"Police officer banged on our door and told us to leave. I guess they were afraid of gunfire," he said. "It was very intense. Specially having children inside, my wife is keeping our kids in the back."

All over the neighborhood people watched and heard in fear and shock. "It's a real quiet neighborhood, I've lived here for 17 years, so it was pretty scary," said Paul Schlaikjer.

A procession happened Tuesday for fallen Commander Carnicle as officials transported his body from the medical examiner’s office to a mortuary located near 7th Street and Northern Avenue. Funeral arrangements have not been made public at this time.