A man who police say charged at officers with a knife in south Phoenix has died, authorities confirmed Friday.
The incident unfolded around 8 a.m. Thursday near Seventh Street and Sunland Avenue, after police received a call reporting a suicidal man armed with a knife. According to investigators, the caller warned dispatchers that the man—identified as 58-year-old Victor Conrad Altamirano—had threatened to confront officers if they arrived.
When officers reached the home, they spoke with witnesses who confirmed Altamirano was still armed and in distress. Police say he then ran into the street, yelling and holding the knife above his head, before rushing toward one of the officers.
At that point, three officers used a mix of weapons, including a firearm, a 40mm launcher, and a pepper-ball device. Authorities said less-lethal rounds failed to stop Altamirano, prompting one officer to fire his gun. Altamirano was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later died. No officers were injured.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety, alongside the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, will review the case.
The deadly encounter adds to a troubling string of recent officer-involved shootings in Phoenix. Thursday morning’s incident was the seventh in six weeks—and just hours later, another police shooting occurred near 16th Street and Buckeye Road.
New Police Chief Matt Giordano, who took office less than two months ago, acknowledged growing public concern over the rise in shootings. “No two incidents are the same. Officers are in stressful situations all the time and they have to make split-second decisions,” he said, adding that the department is working to strengthen crisis-intervention training and expand less-lethal options.
Giordano emphasized his commitment to improving responses to mental health emergencies, saying, “We want to resolve these situations in a safe and peaceful way, and to make sure people get the help they need.”
