The Phoenix Police Department released a Critical Incident Briefing (CIB) video that includes audio, visuals and information related to an officer-involved shooting (OIS) which occurred on January 6, 2022 in the area 17th Avenue and Van Buren Street:
This incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. when a convenience store employee called 911 to report a number of customers told him about a man outside with a gun who was threatening to rob the store.
“… But they said that he’s flashed a gun and he’s talking about robbing the place,” said the convenience store employee to the 911 operator.
Two officers in the area arrived on scene about 3 minutes later. They contacted 32-year-old Gary Sherrod who was seated outside the store. Sherrod stood up and officers noticed he had a gun in his hand. The two officers gave multiple commands for Sherrod to drop the gun, which he ignored. Sherrod held the gun in front of his body, moving it around in different directions.
The officers’ body worn cameras were activated. However, the views were obstructed at times, including at the time of the shooting.
The officer who fired told investigators Sherrod pointed the weapon in his direction, which resulted in the officer-involved shooting.
Slightly more than a minute elapsed from the time the officers contacted Sherrod to the time of the officer-involved shooting.
After the shooting, officers could see Sherrod no longer had the gun. It was on the ground out of his reach. They moved in to detain him and provided medical aid until the Phoenix Fire Department arrived.
Sherrod was transported to a local hospital to receive treatment for the gunshot wound. He is expected to survive his injuries and upon release from the hospital, will be booked in to jail.
The handgun used by Sherrod was recovered on scene and determined to be a pellet gun.
The officer involved in this shooting has been with the department for three years and is assigned to the Central City Precinct.
Conclusions about whether the actions of the officers are consistent with department policy and the law will not be made until all facts are known and the investigation is complete. An internal investigation by the Professional Standard Bureau is currently underway, in addition to a criminal investigation. Once the criminal investigation is complete it will then be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Public records law required redaction of certain personal identifying information before video is released publicly. That is why you may see some parts of Body Worn Camera (BWC) blurred or covered with a black box. Redacted video is released to local media in conjunction with the release of this Critical Incident Briefing for independent review and publication. Complete, unedited versions of the BWC are released to attorneys and the courts as evidence in a criminal case.
