Around 10 a.m., Mesa officers found a man slumped over the wheel of a car in the parking lot of Panda Express. The vehicle he was in was reported stolen, and when officers began giving commands, the man drove off. A police helicopter found the man in a vehicle in a covered parking spot. He was shot and killed. Details as to what precipitated the killing were withheld by police.
Agency: Mesa Police Department
Motive: Theft
Confrontation Type: Other Non-Violent Offense
Service Call: Unavailable
Body Camera: Yes
Official Disposition: Pending investigation
Victim Name: Angel Benitez
Death Date: September 25, 2020
County: Maricopa
Geography: Urban
Gender: Male
Age: 21
Race: Hispanic
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: Unknown
Armed: Unarmed/Did Not Have Actual Weapon
Weapon: no object
Threat Level: other
Fleeing: Car
Washington Post Database ID: 6198