The Tucson Police Department is actively investigating an officer-involved shooting that involved a Tucson man, 27-year-old George Herrera, who was waiving around a machete in a threatening manner on Tucson’s West Side.
According to Tucson Police, on November 3, 2020, just after 9:00 a.m., officers were dispatched to a Circle K located at 3970 N. Flowing Wells Road for the report of a male with a weapon. As officers were responding to the area, additional 911 calls were received reporting that the male was waving a machete around in a threatening manner.
As officers arrived, they found Herrera with the machete. Officers attempted to contact Herrera; however, he ran from them while holding the machete. Officers followed Herrera into a residential alleyway where he was given numerous commands to drop the weapon. While in the alleyway, an officer discharged a flex baton twice and struck Herrera. The two strikes had no effect. A flex baton is a non-deadly device that propels a beanbag.
Herrera then exited the alley north of W. King Place and ran south on N. Flowing Wells Road. While still in possession of the machete, Herrera allegedly approached a pedestrian standing on the corner and a vehicle with two occupants that was stopped at W. King Place. At this time an officer discharged his firearm, striking Herrera.
Detectives with the Tucson Police Violent Crimes Unit and sergeants with the department’s Office of Professional Standards are investigating the incident. The Violent Crimes Unit is conducting the criminal portion of the investigation, while the Office of Professional Standards conducts a separate, but parallel, administrative investigation to examine the actions of department personnel. This is standard protocol in all officer-involved shootings.
When Herrera is released from the hospital, he will be booked into Pima County Jail on one felony charge of reckless display of a weapon.