Phoenix police mistakenly shoots and runs over 38-year-old man while looking for domestic violence suspect

PHOENIX, ARIZONA: On Friday night, December 12, police responded to a report of domestic violence by shooting and striking a man with a patrol car. Police later discovered that the man who was shot and struck by the patrol car was not the domestic abuse suspect.

But he had allegedly pointed what appeared to be a gun at the police who were chasing him.

Man allegedly pointed handgun at police

Police in Phoenix were called to an apartment near 16th Street and McDowell Road regarding domestic violence.

The caller reported to the police that her cousin's boyfriend was trying to break through the front door of the apartment while brandishing a knife. The suspect left the scene and entered the alley before police arrived, according to the police.

As they started to drive into the area, officers noticed a man they believed to be the suspect.

The man was given commands by the officers, but he ignored them and started to flee. The man was pursued by the police, who attempted to stop him with "less lethal tools".

According to police, the man produced a handgun and pointed it at the officers as soon as he got close to 15th and Brill streets.

As stated by USA Today, "Officers continued to use less lethal tools as the man’s behavior continued as they made their way through the neighborhood," according to a statement released by police.

Then, an officer shot the 38-year-old man with a shotgun while another officer drove a marked patrol SUV into him, according to police.

The man suffered severe injuries and was sent to the hospital. The gun the man was using turned out to be a pellet gun disguised to resemble a "semi-automatic handgun", according to the police.

In addition, the policeman who struck the man with the patrol car was taken to the hospital with minor wounds.

Phoenix Police are investigating officer involved in shooting

The man who was first attempting to break into the apartment was not the same man who was shot and struck by a police car, according to the investigation. According to police, the break-in suspect is still at large.

No other information about the circumstances leading up to the incident, the man who was shot, or his identity was disclosed by the police. The identities of the officers engaged in the shooting were likewise kept a secret by the police, 12News reported.

Informing about the incident, the police department shared a tweet that read, "Phoenix Police are investigating an Officer Involved Shooting in the area of 14th Street and McDowell Rd. The man involved is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at the hospital. An officer was also taken to the hospital for minor injuries sustained."

It further read, "Information is still being collected for the detective briefing. McDowell Road and the neighborhood streets in the immediate area will continue to be closed down while this investigation continues."