Update: Flagstaff Police Release More Details of Officer Involved Shooting

The officer-involved shooting occurred in one of the units on the east side of the complex. (NAZ Today Staff Photo)

8/27 Update:  This afternoon the Flagstaff Police Department released even more details about the confrontation that led to the shooting death of Kenneth Mitchell.  According to Flagstaff PD Officer Taylor attempted to contact the persons inside the apartment, who could be heard arguing, through several exterior windows while his fellow officers attempted to make contact at the front door of the apartment. As Officer Taylor came around to the bedroom window of the one room apartment he observed the barrel and fore stock portion of a shotgun, with a hand on the fore stock, being pointed at him. Officer Taylor immediately backed away from the window, drew his duty weapon and advised his fellow officers of the presence of an armed suspect inside the apartment. Officer Taylor then began moving to a position which afforded him better protection and as he moved across the bedroom window he observed Kenneth Mitchell standing with a shotgun in his hands. Kenneth Mitchell had the shotgun pointed directly at a second person, now known to be Kenneth Mitchell’s son, Kenneth “Christopher” Mitchell, who was kneeling on all fours in front of his father. Officer Taylor fired his duty weapon through the bedroom window, striking Kenneth Mitchell several times, in defense of the person he saw kneeling on the bedroom floor, whom Officer Taylor believed was about to be executed.

After the shooting, Kenneth Mitchell dropped the shotgun and fell out of Officer Taylor’s view. Kenneth “Christopher” Mitchell then picked up the shotgun and took a kneeling position behind the bed. Kenneth “Christopher” Mitchell then pointed the shotgun at Officers and began threatening to fire. Despite the deadly threat now posed by Kenneth “Christopher” Mitchell, Officers on scene exercised restraint and began verbal negotiations with the son in an effort to convince him to drop the weapon and exit the apartment. This stand-off lasted for several minutes and during it Kenneth Christopher Mitchell could be heard racking the shot gun. Kenneth “Christopher” Mitchell did eventually exit unarmed and was taken into custody.

8/26  Afternoon Update:  More details have begun to emerge from last night’s shooting, including the identity of the parties involved.  Flagstaff Police Department officers responded to a domestic dispute call at the University West apartments located at 1830 S. Milton.

Witness reports say that an argument broke out between Kenneth Mitchell and his son Christopher Mitchell in which statements concerning a shotgun were heard and during which threats were made which caused Christopher’s mother and Kenneth’s wife to flee the apartment.  Police arrived at the scene and initial reports indicate that Kenneth Mitchell, a resident of Gilbert Texas was shot by Officer Roy Taylor of the Flagstaff Police Department.  Kenneth Mitchell was transported to the Flagstaff medical center where he later died.

Christopher Mitchell was arrested and booked for two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of threatening and intimidating and one count of disorderly conduct.

A multi-jurisdictional shooting investigations team has been created, at the request of the Flagstaff Police Department, to continue the investigation of this officer involved shooting. Investigators from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Northern Arizona University Police Department, and DPS Crime Lab technicians are teaming with investigators of the Flagstaff Police Department to address the multitude of investigative needs required by this sort of incident. The Flagstaff Police Department is conducting a parallel internal investigation of this incident regarding compliance with department rules and regulations.

Lieutenant Ken Koch, from the Flagstaff Police Department says that they are certain all of the parties involved in last night’s shooting have been identified and are accounted for. There are no outstanding suspects or similar threats to public safety.

Check back with NAZ Today for any further details as they emerge.

–

Flagstaff (NAZ Today)- According to the Flagstaff Police Department, on the evening of Wednesday August 25,  Officers of the Flagstaff Police Department were called to 1830 S Milton Road for a domestic dispute in progress. Officers were informed by dispatch, at least one of the persons involved was armed with a firearm.

Moments later three other officers arrived on scene. Uniformed officers attempted contact at the front door of the apartment, announcing their presence but received no response. One uniformed officer was attempting to initiate contact with the occupants of the apartment through exterior windows. Evidence at the scene confirms numerous firearms were present and the officer subsequently fired his duty weapon striking one subject. Paramedics responded and the subject was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center and pronounced deceased as a result of the shooting.

The Flagstaff Police Department requested the assistance of Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Northern Arizona University Police, and the DPS Crime Lab in conducting a criminal investigation of this incident. The Flagstaff Police also requested representatives of the Coconino County Attorney’s Office, and Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office to assist in this investigation.

Officer Roy Taylor of the Flagstaff Police Department is the officer involved in this incident he was uninjured and is currently on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

This incident is under investigation and further details will be released pending their confirmation. Check back with NAZ Today for the latest updates as they become available.