Pipe-Wielding Man Shot By VA Offcer In Tucson: DOJ

TUCSON, AZ — A man that swung a pipe at a VA officer and was then shot by another officer Saturday at Tucson's VA Hospital is facing a federal assault charge, according to a federal complaint.

The complaint, filed by the Department of Justice's District of Arizona office, alleges that Kevin Stennis Gordon swung a piece of pipe at a pair of VA officers after they found him on a construction site on the hospital grounds.

Gordon struck one of the officer's forearms during the incident, with the officers then pepper-spraying him in the face, the complaint said.

The complaint said that Gordon then grabbed his cart, shoved it toward the officers and made threatening remarks to them, before wielding a two-foot pipe from his pant leg and swung it at the officers.

From there, one of the responding officers shot Gordon in the torso as he lunged at an officer, who continued to fight with the officers as they gave him medical assistance, according to the complaint.

Gordon has been charged with one count of assault on a federal officer and is currently in federal custody.