Watch Ariz. Deputy Stop Charging Burglary Suspect Wielding Screwdriver

Source The Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff

A 51-year-old Missouri man, Donald Wayne Henry, is dead following an officer-involved shooting Wednesday morning across from the Flagstaff Mall.

Police closed North Cummings Street by the Verizon Store at the Highway 89 intersection, treating the area as an active crime scene not long after 7 a.m. Traffic was also restricted to two lanes on Highway 89, according to information shared by the Flagstaff Police Department.

According to Flagstaff PD, Henry was killed after he charged a Coconino County sheriff's deputy with a screwdriver. The deputy fired his gun, and at the same time, a Flagstaff police officer fired his Taser.

Police first responded to the intersection of Cummings and Highway 89 after receiving reports of a break-in at the VP Racing Fuels gas station. According to FPD, they were told a man broke a window at the business and was robbing the store.

Meanwhile, deputies from the Coconino County Sheriff's Office were dispatched after callers reported a man threatening to stab people with a knife in the area.

A police officer was the first person to make contact with Henry in the intersection. At that point, police say the suspect threatened the officer with a screwdriver. The officer drew his Taser and can be heard on body cam footage saying, "Put down the screwdriver." Henry ran across the street to the corner by the Verizon store. There, he was surrounded by CCSO deputies and the Flagstaff police officer who made initial contact.

According to a press release from the police department, officers gave the man verbal commands that he ignored. Officers then say the man charged with the screwdriver for a second time, this time at a CCSO deputy, and the deputy fired his weapon.

The Flagstaff police officer involved in the incident has been identified as Officer Patton by Flagstaff Police Department officials. The deputies involved have been identified as Officers McCabe and Harvey.

North Cummings Street remained closed as the area was still being considered an active crime scene. Lynch Drive stayed open as a route in to the Mobile Haven neighborhood and Summit High School.

The Northern AZ Officer Involved Shooting Team is now investigating the incident. Body camera video has been released on the Flagstaff Police Department Transparency website, and police say they will provide more information as it becomes available. Videos and photos of the shooting are available at https://fpdtransparency.com/critical-incident-videos, but viewer discretion is advised.

In the meantime, officers are asking any witnesses to contact the Flagstaff Police Department at 928-774-1414, or you can call Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.

___

Visit The Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, Ariz.) at www.azdailysun.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.