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Joseph Adam Mendez

Age : 32

Gender : Male

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 04/29/2026

Location : 7th Avenue and McDowell Road

City : Phoenix

County : Maricopa

State : Arizona

Agency : Phoenix Police Department

Officer(s) :Not disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during disturbance call

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 04/29/2026, Phoenix Police Department officers were searching for Joseph Adam Mendez in connection with outstanding warrants. Police located Mendez in a vehicle near 700 McDowell Road and attempted to contact him. Police stated that Mendez drove away and officers escalated a pursuit before later locating the vehicle abandoned. Officers later located Mendez again and alleged that he had a gun and ran from officers on foot. The following day, officers encountered Mendez again near downtown Phoenix. Police alleged that Mendez pointed a gun at approaching officers. Officers opened fire, striking and killing him. Phoenix police later released body camera footage from the shooting. The incident remains under investigation.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/critical-incident-involving-phoenix-officers-near-7th-avenue-and-mcdowell-road
https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/phoenix-police-scene-critical-incident-near-downtown
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2026/05/14/phoenix-bodycam-video-shows-officers-killing-joseph-mendez/90082267007/
https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/video-phoenix-police-shoot-kill-armed-man-they-say-assaulted-cop-40666888/