On Tuesday, a man was found dead after he barricaded himself inside a Phoenix convenience store.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, on March 14, 2023, an officer was traveling on Interstate 17 when he saw a man walking in the HOV lane on the freeway. The officer attempted several times to contact the man to get him out of the freeway, but the man ran from officers, went off the exited ramp and continued west on Cactus Road. He was seen going into a local convenience store and was followed by officers. While inside the business, the man pulled out a knife. The man continued to run away from officers, ran into a storage room and barricaded himself inside.
Officers ensured employees and patrons of the business were escorted to safety and then surrounded the room. Several attempts to negotiate the man’s safe exit were attempted, however, the man refused to comply. A fire was set inside the storage room causing the fire sprinkler system to go off.
Negotiations continued as the Phoenix Police Department’s Special Assignments Unit (SAU) arrived on scene and took over. As the man continued to refuse to come out, SAU formulated a plan to make entry into the storage room. Entry was made and the man was found inside the room unresponsive. The man was treated on scene by police and fire personnel, but he did not survive his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene.
Detectives responded to the scene to assume the investigation. The Office of the Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.