Phoenix Police Shoot, Kill Bus Rider Who Pulled Handgun

PHOENIX, AZ — Two Phoenix police officers shot and killed a man on a city bus after he pulled a gun on them, police said. Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson told said witnesses saw the man sitting on a bench Tuesday afternoon waiting for a bus and was "cocking a handgun."

Around 2:30 p.m., police officers stopped a Valley Metro bus as it was leaving near the 9400 block of North Metro Center Parkway East, police said. They entered the bus and a security guard identified the man who had been seen cocking the weapon.

The officers instructed the man, who was sitting in the back of the bus, not to touch the firearm.

"The sergeant moved forward and gave loud commands for the individual to not pull the gun out, to leave it where it was," Thompson said. "The individual started reaching for his pocket and digging into his pocket. He produced a handgun."

At that point, both officers, fearing for their safety and the safety of the other riders, opened fire on him, Thompson said. The man, whose name wasn't immediately released, died at the scene. Officers did try to give him first aid.

"At this time, there were quite a number of people on the bus," Thompson said. "I don't have the exact number, but suffice to say there were quite a few people on the bus."

The officers, who weren't named, were not hurt. One was a 47-year-old sergeant with more than two decades of service. The other was a 29-year-old officer with five years of service.

A live round was later found near the site of the shooting, police said.

This was the 40th shooting involving law enforcement in the Valley this year, police said..

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