PHOENIX — An investigation is underway after Phoenix police shot and killed an armed shoplifting suspect near 35th Avenue and Roosevelt Street. Carl Hayden High School in the area had a delayed start as the roadway was closed for the investigation.
According to a police report, the incident started shortly before midnight on Tuesday when an officer on patrol was contacted by a nearby convenience store employee. The employee reportedly said two nearby men had shoplifted from the store.
When the officer approached, the two men fled in different directions. The officer followed the man running east on Roosevelt Street, and when he got close the suspect pulled out a handgun and started shooting at him, police said.
The officer returned fire, striking the suspect at least once. He was then arrested and taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries. He's been identified as 27-year-old Christopher Tavares.
The second person involved in the shoplifting wasn't found. Police haven't identified the deceased man.
Nearby resident Gina Johnston said the sounds of gunshots were too close for comfort Tuesday night.
“You can hear a lot of gunshots, like it was back and forth,” Johnston said.
Other neighbors said they don’t think much of the noise because of how often gunshots are heard.
“Once you start hearing the helicopters, like, okay it’s more serious now,” Jacqueline Hernandez said.
People living nearby said something needs to be done. They suggested assigning more police to the area.
“It is scary because my kids go to school here,” Angela Macias said. “It’s really, really getting serious now. It’s always over there.”
Carl Hayden High School released the following statement:
We want to inform you about a police incident that occurred overnight near our campus, affecting the start of classes this morning. The incident occurred in the vicinity of 35th Ave southbound and Roosevelt St, resulting in the closure of these areas.
As a result of the ongoing investigation, classes will start at 11:00 a.m. today. When arriving on campus, please enter through the south entrance off 35th Ave. or the East gate off 33rd Ave. Lunch will be served for students at that time.
While a small portion of the campus is currently off-limits due to the proximity of the incident, Phoenix PD has assured that there are no safety concerns for our campus.
We understand that this news may be concerning, but please know that the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary.
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