Phoenix police are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred at a business located at 3036 East Washington Street.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, officers responded to a burglary call at about 3:35 p.m. on July 1, 2023 and contacted two individuals. During the officers’ initial investigation, they went to detain 35-year-old Raul Mendez, who began
struggling with the two officers. While struggling with officers on the ground, Mendez allegedly grabbed at the officer’s taser several times as multiple commands were given for him to stop.
Mendez reportedly did not obey officers’ commands, this is when the officer involved shooting occurred. One officer fired his service weapon and received minor injuries from the incident. The second officer did not fire, and sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the incident.
Mendez suffered gunshot wounds and was transported to the hospital where he later died.