PHOENIX – The man who was shot by police in south Phoenix on Thursday morning has died, authorities announced Friday.
The Phoenix Police Department said 58-year-old Victor Conrad Altamirano was the man killed in what was the seventh shooting involving the city’s officers in the last six weeks. Another Phoenix police shooting occurred later Thursday.
No officers were injured during the first incident, which started around 8 a.m. with a call about a man armed with a knife making suicidal statements at a home in the area of Seventh Street and Sunland Avenue, north of Southern Avenue.
“While heading to the scene, the caller indicated to the dispatcher, which was relayed to officers, that this man did say that if officers were on scene, he would confront those officers,” Sgt. Rob Scherer said during a press conference.
What happened when Phoenix police arrived at scene?
When officers arrived, they spoke with the caller and other people who had been inside the home. These people said the man was suicidal and still had the knife, according to police.
During this discussion, Altamirano allegedly ran at an officer in the street while yelling and holding the knife above his head, the department added.
“This is when this officer-involved shooting and this confrontation occurred,” Scherer said.
The police response involved a combination of gunfire and less-lethal weapons, including a 40mm launcher and a pepper ball launcher.
“I don’t want to say at the same time, but relatively really close after that less-lethal was used and did not alter any behavior, lethal force was again used,” Scherer said.
In all, three officers deployed weapons, one using a less-lethal weapon, one using a firearm and one using both, Scherer said.
Altamirano was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) will investigate the police shooting in conjunction with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Phoenix Police chief discusses spate of recent shootings
The shooting came just one day after new Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano posted a list of actions the department is taking in response to the surge in critical incidents.
Giordano, who has been on the job for under two months, addressed the issue again after Thursday’s incident.
“I want to reiterate my message,” he told reporters. “I understand it’s concerning when these incidents happen in such frequency in the short time that I’ve been in this position as the police chief. No two incidents are the same. Officers are in stressful situations all the time and they have to make split-second decisions.”
Giordano said the department is always looking for ways to improve.
“I am committed to continuing our training in crisis intervention, less-lethal options, distance-and-cover to hopefully resolve situations like this in a peaceful, safe manner, to make sure people get the help they need,” he said. “That is my commitment to you.”
Phoenix officers were involved in yet another shooting, this one near 16th Street and Buckeye Road, just hours later.
This is an updated version of a story originally published Oct. 2, 2025.
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