GILBERT, Ariz. — The family of the man who was shot and killed by Gilbert police after allegedly making threats toward them with guns said he had PTSD.
40-year-old Brett Shanahan was "a great father and friend," a family member told 12News.
The Gilbert Police Department said the shooting happened on Sunday at around 2 p.m. when officers were responding to a report of a person with a gun.
When officers arrived, they did not initially find the suspect — later identified as Shanahan.
“It all kind of happened really, really fast," Lorelei Barker, a neighbor, said. “One of the officers came to ask us some questions and then the next thing we knew there was a flurry of activity."
Shanahan drove into the neighborhood near Greenfield and Knox roads, just east of Crossroads District Park. Shanahan got out of his vehicle wearing a ballistic vest while carrying both a handgun and a rifle, police said.
"I saw the truck pull up in the middle of the road and I saw about 4 police officers open fire," Ryan Bartman, a neighbor, said.
Shanahan was shot as he approached the responding police officers and made threats toward them, according to police. Officers ordered Shanahan to stop but he ignored the commands issued by officers, police said.
“You can tell that the way that he drove up that he was aggressive," Bartman said. "I heard it skid out, and you can tell by the way it’s parked that it’s like you know sideways in the middle of the street.”
There were no injuries to members of the public or officers during the incident, according to police.
Witnesses told 12News they heard between 10 to 15 gunshots.
“Real quick, like almost like lighting off firecrackers. I mean it was quick," Clay Crohn said.
Here is information from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs about who to reach out to if you or someone you know is in crisis:
Are You in Crisis? You Have Options:
- Call 911 if you need police, fire or emergency medical assistance.
- Call 988 if you need to speak to a trained crisis counselor who can help with mental health-related distress. You can also text 988 or chat online with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call if you are concerned about someone else.
- If you are a Veteran, or are concerned about one, call 988, then press "1" to speak with a responder qualified to support Veterans. You can also text 838255 or chat online with the Veterans Crisis Line.
- Go to the nearest Emergency Room for immediate medical attention.
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The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Silent Witness:
Arizona's Silent Witness program allows people to send in tips and share information about crimes happening within their local communities.
The program shares unsolved felony case information in multiple ways, including TV, radio and social media.
Anyone who has information on a crime or recognizes a suspect described by the program is asked to call 480-948-6377, go to the program's website online or download the Silent Witness app to provide a tip. The identity of anyone who submits a tip is kept anonymous.
Calls to Silent Witness are answered 24/7 by a live person and submitted tips are accepted at all times. Submitted tips are then sent to the detective(s) in charge of the specific case.
Individuals who submit tips that lead to an arrest or indictment in the case can get a reward of up to $1,000.