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Man shot and killed by Maricopa police officers after allegedly making threats

Officials said the man "engaged" with officers when he was shot in a Maricopa subdivision.

MARICOPA, Ariz. — A man is dead after allegedly making threats with a gun and being shot by Maricopa police officers Sunday, officials said. 

The Maricopa Police Department said the shooting happened on North Mac Neil Street in the Homestead subdivision just before 8 a.m. Officials said the man, who was identified as 56-year-old Lawrence Knudsen, was reportedly suicidal and had a gun in the front yard.

When officers arrived, they said Knudsen made threats at police and started approaching them with the gun. One officer shot Knudsen. 

He was taken to the hospital where he died of his injuries. 

No officers were hurt in the incident. The Arizona Department of Public Safety will be investigating the shooting.

RELATED: Officer shoots, kills man who got into police SUV in west Phoenix

RELATED: Man dead after being shot by Mesa police in Chandler

2022 Valley Police Shootings: 

Below is a map of all of the reported incidents where Valley police officers have shot civilians or have been shot by civilians in 2022. 

12 News will continue to update the map as more police-involved shooting are reported throughout the year. 

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