Updated Information on the Garfield Officer Involved Shooting

Regarding Officer Peters history. I need to correct a few things. He has been involved in 7 officer involved shootings. 6 of which proved fatal for the suspects. His first OIS was in 2002, the rest occurring over the next 10 years.

Updated information:

Our detectives continue to process the scene, however, we have some more details to release since the house search has commenced. In the initial search of the residence, we located the pistol a few feet from where the suspect fell inside the residence. It is believed to be the one the suspect used to threaten neighbors. It was wedged between the arm and cushion of a chair few feet away from where he fell. It was loaded. We also located a loaded shotgun near a chair a few feet farther into the residence.

From interviews with officers on the scene we have identified that the first arriving officer saw the suspect outside his residence, near the front door. The suspect ignored the officer's commands to step away from the house and ran back inside. From the officer's position, he could see that the suspect had the baby in his arms, but he could not see if he had a weapon. More officers arrived and the supervisor formed up a crisis entry team with intentions of entering the house to affect the rescue of the baby and arrest the suspect. As the team of 5 officers advanced on the house they saw the front door was closed. They called for the suspect to come out. After a few calls for the suspect to come out, The suspect opened the door with the baby in his left hand. He stood just inside the doorway and would not come out as commanded by officers. He was holding the baby in his left arm in front of his upper body and face. Moments later, he reached down to his right, lowering the baby, clearly exposing his head and upper body. Officer Peters, responded to the movement with a single shot the suspect's head. The suspect fell to the ground and the baby was rescued by officers. The suspect died instantly.

The search of the residence has uncovered the 2 weapons, as well as at least 8 "Airsoft" type rifles and pistols. A small cylindrical device with a fuse was located inside the residence as well. A bomb squad officer safely removed the device.

Sgt. Mark Clark

Also, Below you will find the text of Chief Rodbell's statement this morning:

Last night, a Scottsdale Police Officer was involved in a shooting where an assault suspect was fatally shot. My sympathies go out to everyone who is affected by this incident.

A police officers primary duty is to protect life. It is difficult for everyone when we are forced to take a life. I am confident that the internal and external systems that are in place will provide a thorough review of the circumstances that lead to the shooting.

Our goal is to determine the facts of this case. This morning, investigators and crime scene technicians are in the process of conducting a thorough on-scene investigation, interviewing witnesses and involved officers to get to the facts.

The scrutiny over police involved shootings is painstakingly thorough, which can take weeks and even months.

The officer who fired the shot was James Peters, a 12 year veteran officer. As some of you may know, Officer Peters has been involved in other police shootings, all of which were thoroughly investigated, reviewed and found to be justifiable uses of force.

The suspect is John Loxas, a 50 year old man.

We are committed to sharing all the facts with the public as soon as they become available. This is going to be a thorough process and I ask for your patience while that process is followed.

Here's what we know:

Just after 6 PM, we received a call that a resident was threatening neighbors with a handgun. Officers arrived and the concerned neighbors told them the man was waiving a pistol around, pointing it at them and had a baby in his arms. The man went in his house before officers arrived. Officers made their way to the suspect's house where the suspect came out with the infant in his arms. Officers confronted the suspect at the front door to the house and one officer fired one round at the suspect. The suspect fell, mortally wounded. The infant was unharmed. We have not yet recovered a weapon. Detectives are still on the scene at this time.

Let me close by saying that I am confident in the process that is undertaken in these matters, There are in place, internal and external reviews of the facts by legal experts, use of force experts and citizens, Which will provide the community, department and city officials with the answers to the questions we all have and leave the community with the same sense confidence that I have in my officers, detectives.