Mesa police shoot man after police say he took his father hostage

Ethan Schmidt | The Republic | azcentral.com

Mesa police shot a man after police say he took his father hostage inside a house in Mesa early Monday morning.

Two Mesa police officers shot at the man, according to a preliminary investigation, said Detective Nik Rasheta of the Mesa Police Department.

The man is in critical condition. No officers or others were injured in the shooting.

Officers responded to the house after receiving a call for a family fight at about 3 a.m. near Broadway and Gilbert roads, Rasheta said.

The caller said her brother was going to shoot her father. It's unclear if she was in the house at the time.

When police responded, they found the suspect inside the house with his younger brother and father, Rasheta said. About 15 minutes later, the younger brother came out of the house.

Officers then talked to the suspect on the phone and found out he was holding his father hostage, Rasheta says. He was refusing to put his gun down and come outside.

At about 3:30 a.m., the hostage got out of the house and confirmed to officers that the suspect had a loaded shotgun.

After seeing the suspect multiple times through a window, officers shot the suspect after they saw him holding the shotgun, according to Rasheta.

Life-saving measures were immediately taken and the suspect was taken to the hospital.

Broadway Road is closed in both directions from Lindsay to Gilbert roads while an investigation is underway.

No further information is immediately available, Rasheta said.

This is a developing story. Check back with azcentral.com for updates.

Breaking news reporter Ethan Schmidt can be reached at ethan.schmidt@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TheEthanSchmidt.