PHOENIX — Phoenix police have identified the two officers involved in the shooting and killing of 28-year-old James Garcia.
Officer say they went to a home near 57th Avenue and Indian School Road on July 4 after reportedly receiving a call from a person who said a man who had tried to kill him earlier showed up with a knife and threatened to hurt him.
When officers Noel Trevino, 29, and Gregory Wilson, 31, responded to the scene, they made contact with the victim who pointed to a home where the stabbing suspect was located.
The officers then approached the man and said they were investigating an aggravated assault, and directed Garcia to get out of the vehicle.
Garcia refused, rolled up his windows and took out a handgun, police say.
Garcia then reportedly lifted the gun towards officers after being told to drop the gun. One officer saw the gun pointed at another officer and broke the rear window trying to distract the suspect. Other officers fired at the suspect.
The gun was then removed from the car and Garcia was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The release of the officers' names comes after protests around the state, calling for justice.
Phoenix police only released a short clip of their body camera footage, showing them removing a gun from the vehicle after witnesses stated that Garcia was unarmed.
The department has yet to show footage revealing Garcia's or officers' actions before the shooting occurred.
Officer Trevino is a three-year veteran with Phoenix Police Department, while Wilson is a two-year veteran.
Back in October of 2019, Trevino was named "Officer of the Year" by members of the Grace Walk Community Church off of Lower Buckeye Road in Phoenix.
