Phoenix police footage shows officer shooting at fleeing, armed man in Nov. 20 case
The Phoenix Police Department released two videos Monday relating to a Nov. 20 incident in which an officer shot 24-year-old Jesse Magana in the shoulder.
Phoenix police say they initially stopped Magana on 24th Drive and Thomas Road. According to officers, the man was almost struck by a police vehicle as he rode his bike midblock across Thomas Road.
Since 2019, the Phoenix Police Department has produced critical response briefing videos with summaries of police shootings that include some bodycam footage, 911 calls and a narration of the events that led to the shooting.
The first portion of bodycam footage shown in the briefing video began with Magana standing on the sidewalk with his bicycle. An officer could be heard telling Magana to lay down the bike before the man obeyed. The officer then informed the man that she would pat him down.
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“Don't (expletive) reach,” the officer was heard saying as she grabbed the man's arm.
The officer then instructed him to take off his backpack and put his hands behind his back. Magana appeared to obey, although the officer proceeded to tell the man to “stop” repeatedly. “I am, I am," the man responded.
Magana was then asked to lie down before the officer requested another unit to respond. The officer was heard telling the man to stop reaching and to spread his legs while on the ground. "(Expletive), I am," Magana was heard saying.
“If you move, I’ll (expletive) shoot you,” the officer said to Magana after telling him she could see he had a gun. Magana denied having a gun on him, but the video confirmed that he did have a firearm in his waistband.
The officer's bodycam then fell to the ground.
“He is running,” the officer said before multiple gunshots could be heard.
According to Sgt. Rob Scherer, who narrated the critical incident briefing video, Magana had fired his weapon.
Phoenix police tracked Magana to an alleyway on 25th and Earll drives. In the second portion of bodycam footage shown in the briefing video, Magana was seen running away from officers with both of his hands in the air. Police warned Magana that he would be shot if he did not get on the ground.
Magana could be seen running and lowering his left hand to his waist. An officer then fired multiple gunshots, injuring his shoulder, according to Sgt. Scherer. Magana screamed in pain as he was ordered to roll over onto his stomach.
Scherer said officers administered medical care to Magana. Officers later found that a Phoenix police vehicle was struck when Magana initially fired his gun, Scherer said.
On Nov. 29, Phoenix police announced that Magana was released from medical care on Nov. 21 and booked into jail on several felony charges, including aggravated assault and misconduct involving weapons for being a prohibited possessor of a firearm.
An internal investigation by the Professional Standards Bureau was underway as of Monday, in addition to a criminal investigation, according to Scherer. It was unclear if the officer, who was with the department for one year, was placed on leave. Once the criminal investigation is complete, it will be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police bodycam footage shows shooting of Jesse Magana
