A Phoenix police officer shot and killed a man while he was in the act of stabbing the mother of his three children.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, the officer involved shooting occurred Monday evening inside a residence near 41st Avenue and Alta Vista Road.
On Monday, just before 6:00 p.m., officers responded to multiple calls of domestic violence near 41st Avenue and Alta Vista Road. While officers were responding, information was provided stating someone was being beaten inside the home and had been stabbed.
Officers arrived at the home and found an elderly woman outside suffering from injuries. Officers continued toward the front door of the home and saw another female victim, later identified as 40-year-old Monica Castro, a few feet inside the residence. She was on the ground in a kneeling position, covered in blood, suffering from obvious signs of trauma. Directly behind Monica was the suspect, 40-year-old Anthony Castro, kneeling behind her holding two knives, one in each hand. Police commands were given to the suspect to drop the items. He did not comply. The suspect continued to hide his body behind Monica, while stabbing her with the knives. An officer discharged his firearm, fatally striking Anthony.
After the officer involved shooting, officers helped Monica out of the house, and she was transported to the hospital where she was later pronounced deceased. Anthony was pronounced deceased on scene. The elderly woman was transported to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and was released after treatment. Three juveniles were contacted safe nearby uninjured. It was later learned they are the biological children of both Anthony and Monica who ran from the home during the incident.