Christopher Tavares : “Phoenix Police Shooting Videos: Deadly Incident”

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The Phoenix Police Department has released surveillance videos and body-camera footage revealing a deadly shootout between a suspected shoplifter and a police officer that occurred earlier this month.

According to police reports, a convenience store employee flagged down a patrol officer near 35th Avenue and Roosevelt Street just before midnight on May 7, alerting him to two individuals who had allegedly shoplifted from the store.

The officer approached the two suspects at a nearby bus stop, prompting them to flee on foot. Newly released surveillance footage captures the first suspect running on the sidewalk, with the second suspect, identified as 27-year-old Christopher Raymond Tavares, following closely behind, while the officer pursued in his police SUV.

As the chase ensued, Tavares turned and opened fire on the officer from the sidewalk. The officer’s vehicle sustained multiple gunshot hits, but thankfully, the officer escaped unharmed. He quickly drove away from the gunfire and notified his colleagues of the situation.

After making a U-turn, the officer encountered Tavares once again, prompting another exchange of gunfire. The officer’s body-cam footage shows him firing approximately 20 shots at Tavares in self-defence.

Following the intense confrontation, Tavares was found lying on the ground, unresponsive. He was rushed to the hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries.

It remains unclear whether the second suspect involved in the shoplifting incident was apprehended by the authorities.

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