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With kids around, how do police stop a dangerous man in a pursuit?

An armed robbery suspect was shot and killed at a Glendale apartment complex after leading police on a pursuit. Families in the area say kids were around the dangerous scene when it happened.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — A dramatic police pursuit that ended with the suspect, 24-year-old Timothy Leon, shot dead on the scene, has law enforcement experts responding to questions about how and when officers decide to take down a wanted man, especially when so many kids are around.

Retired Phoenix police sergeant Andy Hill says every police pursuit is different, so it depends when and how police choose to stop a suspect.

“The whole point is to try and stop it as safely and as quickly as possible without having anyone else get injured or hurt,” said Hill.

Knowing Leon had already put others in danger, Hill says police would have to put a strategy in play.

“Then you have to start thinking of a plan. How are we going to try and stop this person as safely as possible without the public getting hurt, without officers getting hurt and hopefully without the suspect getting hurt if possible?” said Hill.

Thankfully, no one else was hurt, but families in the area are still horrified by what they saw and the kids that were around.

“They [children] were just all over the place because, in this area, kids ride their bikes, play games, all kinds of stuff. So that was my main concern was like the kids,” said Teresa Cordova, a witness and resident where Leon was shot dead. 

“Adults were complaining about the fact that the man’s body was just lying there uncovered, bleeding, and kids were just videotaping it and seeing it, so it got pretty bad,” she added.

Glendale police say the 24-year-old suspect was in a stolen car that was carjacked, and according to police, this was at least the fifth armed robbery in five days involving Leon. Three of those five incidents were carjackings. The suspect had fired a handgun during all of the carjackings, striking a victim with gunfire during one those.

RELATED: Glendale police release the identity of man shot, killed by officers after pursuit

Police say Leon was involved in an armed robbery near 32nd St and Thomas before the chase started Tuesday afternoon.   

According to Glendale police, tactical officers from the Phoenix Police Department followed Leon into Glendale near 6400 N. 64th Dr. Officers attempted to stop Leon, but he tried to flee armed with a handgun and he did not comply with the officers’ commands.

Three of the tactical officers from the Phoenix Police Department, fearing for their lives and those of the community, responded with lethal force when Leon pointed his gun at them. Leon succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

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