A Mesa Home Depot employee reportedly saw a person stealing power tools. The person pulled out a knife when confronted by the employee, ran into the parking lot, got into a black Expedition and fled. A witness from the Home Depot store followed the suspect, while others called 911. The Expedition collided with the witness near Higley and Broadway Roads. A detective was in the area at the time of the crash and tried to pull the suspect over, but he did not stop. The Expedition then got onto westbound U.S. 60, where a Mesa Police helicopter followed it into Phoenix. The Expedition continued through downtown Phoenix and eventually made a U-turn, heading toward an officer. The Expedition then turned onto 22nd Street and onto a dirt road where police tried again to stop it but were unsuccessful. The Expedition eventually stopped near 24th and Jefferson Streets where a deputy U.S. Marshal ordered it to stop. The Expedition spun its tires and pushed the officer's vehicle, with the officer standing nearby. The deputy marshal shot and killed the driver.
Agency: U.S. Marshals Service
Motive: Theft
Confrontation Type: Other Non-Violent Offense
Service Call: Yes
Official Disposition: Pending investigation
Victim Name: Name withheld by police
Death Date: March 24, 2021
County: Maricopa
Geography: Urban
Gender: Male
Age: Unknown
Race: Unknown race
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: No
Armed: Allegedly Armed
Weapon: knife
Threat Level: other
Fleeing: car