A wanted man died after officers stopped his SUV during a tactical operation near Pinnacle Peak Road.
PHOENIX, Ariz. — A north Phoenix road reopened Friday morning after police fatally shot a wanted man during a Thursday evening tactical operation near 23rd Avenue and Pinnacle Peak Road, officials said.
Phoenix police said the man was wanted on allegations tied to sex crimes against a child. He was believed to be in his 50s, but authorities had not released his name. Police said no officers were hurt, and officials had not said whether a weapon was found.
Phoenix Police Sgt. Vince Lewis said tactical officers located the man while he was driving in the area. A K-9 handler used a Grappler device to stop the SUV as it traveled west on Pinnacle Peak Road. Another detective then joined the handler before the shooting occurred, Lewis said.
“We’re going to talk to the officers to get their recollection of what they observed,” Lewis said when asked whether the man was armed. Police said the man was later removed from the vehicle after the scene was safe. Firefighters pronounced him dead at the scene.
The shooting drew a large police response and shut down Pinnacle Peak Road from 23rd Avenue to Interstate 17 through the night. Investigators processed the scene before the stretch reopened at about 5:45 a.m. Friday.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety is handling the shooting investigation. Phoenix police said the department will also review the case internally. Authorities had not released the officers’ names or a timeline for additional updates.
The case adds to a growing count of police shootings in Arizona in 2026. Arizona’s Family records show 21 officer-involved shootings in the Valley and 43 statewide so far this year.
The man’s identity and the events that led officers to fire remained under investigation Friday.
Author note: Last updated June 12, 2026.