Bodycam Footage In Death Of Man, 21, Released By Tempe PD

TEMPE, AZ — A shooting on Friday left a 21-year-old man dead after he was suspected of stealing a car in Mesa, and Tempe police have released body camera footage from three of the five officers involved.

While the shooting involved officers from the Mesa Police Department, the death occurred in Tempe, leaving it up to the Tempe Police Department to investigate.

"Since the shooting occurred near University Drive and Evergreen Road within the city of Tempe, the Tempe Police Department is conducting the criminal investigation," Tempe Detective Greg Bacon said in his critical incident briefing.

Warning: the video contains sound of shooting that may be upsetting or triggering to some.

Just before 9:30 a.m., Bacon said officers from the Mesa Police Department were sent to the Panda Express on Dobson Road after receiving a call about a man slumped over the steering wheel of a red car. The footage from the first two responding officers shows one approaching the car on the passenger side while the other read out the license plate to Mesa police dispatchers and was informed that the car had been reported stolen.

According to Bacon, a Mesa police sergeant arrived to assist in contacting the driver, later identified as Angel Benitez, and all three officers drew their guns. Bacon said the officers observed movement in the car and commanded him to stop driving, but the car fled the parking lot.

With the help of the Mesa Air Unit and Mesa Street Crimes using unmarked vehicles, the red car was found in a covered parking spot at an apartment complex in Tempe. It had been backed in, so Benitez was facing the officers as they approached, but all three body cameras had obstructed views of the confrontation.

Two officers on the scene had shotguns with orange markings, which Bacon said are "less lethal weapons" that shoot bean bag rounds. The three others were carrying standard shotguns with bullets.

Body camera footage shows that officers commanded Benitez to open the car door with his left hand and slowly exit. One officer yelled, "Don't reach!" before all five officers fired their weapons at the driver simultaneously.

Benitez was taken to a nearby hospital where he died.

The man's family has called the shooting unjustified, with several witnesses telling Fox 10 that Benitez had his hands up when he was shot. No weapon was found in the car.

Mesa Police Department Chief Ken Cost said the officers involved had been placed on administrative leave and that the department would be conducting its own internal investigation.

The Tempe police investigation is ongoing, Bacon said. When it is completed, all information will be turned over to the Maricopa County Attorney's office for review.