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The driver of a stolen car turned a gun on himself following a standoff with deputies at Circle K in Tempe. FOX 10’s Ashlie Rodriguez learns how this situation unfolded.
TEMPE, Ariz. – Officials with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said a man is dead following a standoff that shut down an intersection in Tempe on Wednesday.
What we know:
The situation unfolded at a Circle K gas station in the area of Priest Drive and Baseline Road after a traffic stop turned dangerous, leading to the suspect’s death.
The backstory:
A stolen car pulled into the gas station just before 9 a.m. on Jan. 14, leading to chaos over the next half hour.
From non-lethal rounds, to drones, canines, swat teams and crisis negotiators, MCSO said the male driver inside refused to get out of the car. We were told by officials that MCSO deputies tried to approach the car, that was reported stolen out of the State of Washington.
"As deputies approached the driver, he did brandish a firearm," William Jinks with MCSO said.
A standoff on the morning of Jan. 14 shut down a busy intersection in Tempe. The standoff ended with the death of one person, and FOX 10’s Ashlie Rodriguez has the latest.
Dig deeper:
Officers ran back to their vehicles to take cover. SWAT, along with crisis negotiators, K-9s and Tempe Police, were called to assist. Tempe Police shut down the roads, leaving incoming traffic locked out and people inside the many businesses nearby, locked in.
"As I walked in the police had just drawn on them, they said step back," Raul Molina, a mint dispensary owner said. "It went on for about 30 to 40 minutes as the different teams showed up, the SWAT teams showed up."
The owner of the dispensary, which sits across the street from the gas station, said he was getting his morning caffeine when four customers and three employees were locked inside, all caught on video taken from Molina's cell phone.
"At one point you heard a shot," he said.
Under pressure to surrender, the driver used his own gun to shoot himself, according to deputies. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
What they’re saying:
People who knew him broke into tears as they stared at the black body screen.
"No officers, no deputies fired their weapons, everyone was safe. The primary objective was to make sure the entire area was safe," Jinks said.
What we don’t know:
Officials have yet to identify the suspect.
Help is available. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to civilians and veterans. Support in Spanish is also available. You can also chat with crisis counselors via online chat.
CLICK HERE for the warning signs and risk factors of suicide.
Area where the incident happened
The Source: Information for this article was gathered from Tempe Police and FOX 10’s Ashlie Rodriguez.
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