Mesa police investigate officer‑involved shooting near Main Street and Stapley Drive after reported domestic violence call

Mesa police investigated an officer-involved shooting Friday afternoon near East Main Street and South Stapley Drive after responding to a domestic violence call. According to officials, officers fired at 25-year-old Pedro Garcia after he failed to comply with commands and pulled a knife during the encounter; Garcia was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Mesa police said officers responded to a residence near East Main Street and South Stapley Drive on Friday afternoon following a report involving a domestic violence situation and a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, officers encountered 25-year-old Pedro Garcia, who was connected to the stolen truck parked near the home, according to a statement from the Mesa Police Department.

Mesa police said Garcia then pulled a knife from a sheath in his waistband, pointed it at an officer, and lunged toward the officer near the truck.

Officials said Garcia exited the residence and approached the vehicle, ignoring multiple verbal commands from officers. Police reported that Garcia then pulled a knife from a sheath in his waistband, pointed it at an officer, and lunged toward the officer near the truck. In response, two officers fired a total of three rounds at Garcia, who was not struck by the gunfire. After the initial shooting, Garcia continued to resist commands, prompting officers to deploy less-lethal options, including a beanbag round and a Taser, before taking him into custody.

Garcia was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. He was later released and booked into jail. Investigators said Garcia admitted to stealing the vehicle and described his actions toward officers with the knife. Police added that Garcia told detectives he pointed the knife at officers intending to provoke them to shoot him, which the department characterized as a possible suicide-by-cop attempt.

Mesa police confirmed that no officers were injured during the incident. Following the shooting, officers secured the scene and maintained a perimeter while investigators collected evidence and interviewed witnesses. Several people present at the residence were temporarily detained for questioning as authorities worked to determine their involvement in the domestic violence report and the stolen vehicle.

The department said two officers discharged their firearms during the encounter, firing three rounds in total. After the shooting, officers escalated to less-lethal force to subdue Garcia, using a beanbag projectile and a Taser. Police emphasized that no officers were physically harmed during the incident.

Mesa Police Department officials held a news briefing to provide details on the shooting and confirmed that their internal investigative unit activated critical incident protocols to review the officers’ actions. The department said the case file, including body-worn camera footage, officer reports, physical evidence, and witness statements, will be submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for review. Prosecutors will determine whether to file formal charges, which could include aggravated assault on a peace officer and theft of means of transportation, based on the investigation’s findings.

The officers involved in the shooting are expected to be placed on administrative leave, a standard procedure during ongoing investigations of officer-involved shootings, according to Mesa police. The department continues to investigate the incident, with officials stating that the case will be forwarded to prosecutors once the internal and criminal inquiries are complete.

The initial call that prompted police response was related to a domestic violence concern and a stolen truck associated with the residence near Main Street and Stapley Drive. Police said the confrontation escalated when officers contacted Garcia near the stolen vehicle. The investigation remains active as authorities work to clarify all circumstances surrounding the incident.