Police were called to a home after receiving reports of a domestic disturbance involving a man who was breaking things inside the house. When officers arrived, Nicholas Johnston was standing in the front yard holding a rifle. He allegedly pointed the gun at a helicopter and fired a shot into the air. When Johnston spotted the officers walking toward him he pointed the rifle at them, and he was shot and killed.
Victim's Name: Nicholas Johnston
Agency Responsible: Phoenix Police Department
Gender: Male
Age: 47
Race: White
Date of Death: June 25, 2017
County: Maricopa
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Official Disposition: Pending investigation/No Known Charges
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: No
Armed: Allegedly Armed
Weapon: gun
Threat Level: attack
Fleeing: Not fleeing
Body Camera: No
Washington Post Database ID: 2696
Geography: Suburban