Arizona Republic
PHOENIX — Police have released dramatic new video and information that shows an officer-involved shooting at a Phoenix mall’s parking lot on Dec. 23, 2019, just two days before Christmas.
The video shows part of a shooting that happened at Desert Sky Mall near 76th Avenue and Thomas Road. In the video, the suspect, later identified as Richard Ruiz, 38, shoots at several people. Phoenix police officials say they received 911 calls from several people. In the first call, a woman said that Ruiz tried to steal her car at gunpoint. The woman also told officers Ruiz shot her twice as she drove away.
Shortly after the first 911 call, a second woman reported Ruiz approached her red pickup truck and held her at gunpoint. Police said Ruiz jumped into the driver seat, driving slowly around the parking lot. The woman told officers that she feared Ruiz was coming after her and she began screaming. The truck slowly drove towards another man who was walking near the front of the mall.
The video shows the red pickup truck driven by Ruiz circle in front of the store and the moment a man in front of the store is shot in the shoulder. Ruiz then tried to shoot the victim again, while the he hid behind a concrete pillar for protection.
As police officers arrive at the parking lot Ruiz is seen driving away in the red pickup truck. The man was able to point officers where Ruiz was headed. That’s when officers followed Ruiz around the parking lot.
Police say the two people who were shot by Ruiz have non-life-threatening injuries. The third victim, the person who was carjacked, was not hurt.
Phoenix police said the two officers involved in the shooting are from the Maryvale/Estrella Mountain Precinct. One is a 29-year-old with three years of service and his partner is a 40-year-old officer with 17 years of service. Phoenix police said that both were wearing body cameras that were on at the time of the incident.
In a statement, Phoenix police said “conclusions about whether the actions of the officers are consistent with department policy and the law will not be made until all facts are known and the investigation is complete.”