Mesa Police Shoot And Kill Man At Tempe Apartment Complex

TEMPE, AZ — Mesa police shot and killed a man Wednesday at a Tempe apartment complex, according to Tempe police.

Stephen Franco, 37, was shot at an apartment complex in the 200 block of E. Baseline Road. Police say he initially barricaded himself in his vehicle, told police he had a gun and then got out and reached toward his waistband before police fired.

He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Mesa police tracked Franco to the complex because they believed he was connected to a Monday bank robbery at Desert Financial Credit Union in Mesa, Tempe police said.

Law enforcement attempted to use tear gas, bean bag rounds, a K9 officer and tried to negotiate with Franco before shooting him, police said. Police say they found a handgun on the ground after the shooting.

Tempe Police are investigating the shooting.