Trending Topics

Video: Phoenix police shoot, kill armed suspect holding baby

911 callers reported the man had stolen a woman’s baby and began shooting at drivers

phoenix police baby.png

Phoenix Police Department

By Suzie Ziegler

PHOENIX — Phoenix police shot and killed an armed man who was reportedly holding a baby hostage, according to a press release from the agency. Police released bodycam video and 911 calls of the events surrounding the shooting.

Security video shows the suspect grappling with a woman, and later running through a parking lot with a small child in his arms. A 911 caller reported that the man had stolen her son. A separate caller also reported the suspect was shooting at people in a drive-thru.

Bodycam video shows the officers arriving on scene, but the fatal shooting is partially obscured by a patrol car’s door. Police say the suspect, 37-year-old Paul Bolden, refused commands to drop his weapon.

According to police, Bolden pointed his gun at the baby in his arms. That’s when an officer fired, hitting the suspect. Bolden later died at the hospital.

Officers later learned that Bolden had had a fight with his girlfriend and took their baby, according to police. The boy wasn’t injured.

WHAT TO READ NEXT
Officer Brett Boller survived the shooting and the suspect was arrested and charged with attempted murder
Bystander video shows officers deploying less lethal weapons before the man was shot by the officers
Sergeant Michael Moran was a Marine Corps veteran and had served the Cortez Police Department for 11 years
“These are some of the most challenging calls we as law enforcement respond to,” said Chief Al Jones. “Officers go into these situations wanting to save lives”