Phoenix police detectives are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Thursday morning in a neighborhood near 91st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road.
Officers were driving in the area of 91st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road when they found a pickup truck stopped in the roadway. The driver, later identified as 34-year-old Uriel Lozada, appeared to be sleeping in the driver’s seat of the pickup. Officers were unable to wake him, so they asked for an additional patrol unit to assist them. During this time, they learned that the vehicle was reported stolen. Once the second unit arrived, they pinned in the vehicle which caused Lozada to wake up.
Lozada attempted to drive off but was unable to since the pickup was blocked. He then got out of the pickup with a gun and ran off while pointing the gun at officers. Officers used less-lethal tools to stop Lozada, but they were ineffective as he was able to make it into a neighborhood where officers lost sight of him. Additional officers arrived to search for Lozada, and he was located on 91st Avenue just south of Lower Buckeye Road. Officers gave Lozada commands to get on the ground and he reacted by pointing the firearm at officers. This was when the officer involved shooting occurred.
After the shooting, Lozada ran off and officers lost sight of him. Officers set up a perimeter around the neighborhood as officers from the Tactical Support Bureau arrived and began searching for the suspect. With help of the Air Unit, the suspect was found in the backyard of a residence where he was taken into custody with the assistance of a less-lethal tool.
Detectives responded and processed the scene. The investigation remains active.
There were no injuries to officers or any other community members. Lozada was cleared medically by the fire department.
and will be booked on multiple felonies to included Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer and Theft of Means of Transportation.