TEMPE, Ariz. — A suburban Phoenix police department is seeking to dispel rumors that officers planted a replica handgun on the body of a 14-year-old boy after he was fatally shot by an officer.
Tempe, Arizona, police on Wednesday showed reporters new body camera footage showing an orange-tipped fake gun underneath the teen's arm as an officer approached him after he was shot.
The videos are not being released to the public and reporters were not allowed to record, only observe. The videos are body camera footage from three officers, including Officer Joseph Jaen, who fatally shot Arce on Jan. 15.
“We’re not going to take questions right now. If you guys [reporters] want to watch the video, you are more than welcome to come. We ask that there are no cameras nor recording devices whatsoever,” said Detective Lily Duran with Tempe Police Media Relations Unit.
The police effort comes after the owner of a truck the teen was in before being shot initially claimed no weapons were stolen. He later said he wasn't sure whether guns were taken.
The videos that were shown to reporters show a replica gun under Antonio Arce's right bicep.
On Jan. 15, Tempe police say they were responding to a call of a suspicious car in an alley when Jaen saw Arce inside the pickup truck. Video shows the boy exiting the truck and running away, and Jaen chasing after him. Jaen shot twice at Arce from at least 114 feet away, striking him once in the shoulder. The boy continued to run but collapsed on a street just outside the alleyway.
Police officials said Jaen fired because he perceived a threat.
The video shows Jaen, who was alone, standing behind a concrete wall as he commands Arce to drop his weapon. Arce is unresponsive, except for a quick moment in which he lifts his head up.
Several minutes pass as the frantic Jaen, who curses as he waits for backup, keeps a distance.
About five minutes pass before other officers who arrived on scene approach Arce's body, turning him over and handcuffing him before they begin chest compressions.
"It's just a (expletive) kid," Jaen says. "It's a (expletive) toy gun, man. What the (expletive)?"
The other officers comforted Jaen. One of the officers, Officer David Lewis, told Jaen he did a "good job."
Another officer, Officer Anna Cano, said, "Why don’t you just go? Let us take this. He's down."
But before Lewis turns Arce over to perform CPR, an apparent pellet gun with an orange point is seen under Arce's right arm. Body camera video also shows a clear bottle with a blue top filled with what looks like pellets.
Jaen is winded and in disbelief as he's ushered back to his car.
Firefighters soon arrive on scene. Arce is transported to the hospital where police say he died.
The officer is a 17-year police veteran and is on administrative leave as the investigation continues.
Tempe police did not answer critical questions and quickly escorted reporters out because they said they also invited Arce’s family to watch the body cam video, but Arce’s family says they never got any calls inviting them to see the additional footage and that they were not interested in seeing it. Instead, Arce’s family says they are leaving it to their lawyers.
Tempe police say the body camera videos are part of more than 100 videos of footage they are investigating.
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Lt. Mike Hayes said Wednesday the department decided to show the videos to reporters to address a misconception that the boy was never holding the fake gun. But police didn't answer questions about police protocol and when it would be justifiable to shoot a suspect who is running away.
Arizona has a "defense of third person" law that allows someone to use deadly force against another who is threatening or injuring a third person, but there wasn't anyone else shown on the video in the alley as Arce ran away.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.