PHOENIX — A man allegedly threatening people with a gun was shot by a Phoenix police officer Thursday afternoon.
The shooting happened near 15th Avenue and Camelback Road around 5 p.m. A police spokesman said the suspect pointed a gun at two people in the parking lot of the Rally's fast-food restaurant.
An off-duty officer was assisting with traffic when the officer saw what was happening. After the officer gave multiple commands to drop the weapon, the suspect ignored commands and the officer fired, according to police. The suspect was shot and the immediate threat was ended.
Police said the suspect was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, but he is considered stable and expected to survive.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting are still being investigated. However, police said the suspect was not an employee of the nearby business, but the individuals he was pointing a gun at are believed to have shoplifted from the business.
The business was not a victim of a robbery, police said.
The area was closed off, and Valley Metro said service in the area was temporarily disrupted.
Detectives learned from a witness that the officer verbally identified himself and gave multiple commands for the suspect to drop the weapon before the officer fired.
Police said they are investigating the possibility that the suspect and other individuals on the scene were also involved in other criminal activity.
The officer has been with the department for about four years.
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