Police Pursuit Ends in Fatal Shooting on Live TV After Armed Robbery

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Officers killed a man suspected in an armed robbery of a credit union who led police on a miles-long chase that ended with shots fired near Interstate 10 and Baseline Road in Tempe, authorities said.

Two other men were in custody, according to Sgt. Jonathan Howard, Phoenix police spokesman. All known suspects had been stopped or detained, Howard said.

Tuesday’s incident marks Phoenix police’s 19th officer-involved shooting to date in 2016. Eleven of them were fatal.

Phoenix police identified the suspect killed by officers as 31-year-old Steven Del Rio.

The Credit Union West branch at 503 W. Van Buren St. in Avondale was held up about 11:49 a.m., according to Sgt. Thomas Alt, an Avondale police spokesman.

Shots were fired at Avondale police officers responding to the robbery call, Alt said.

Avondale police followed the vehicle onto Interstate 10 east until it reached Phoenix city limits, and Phoenix officers then took over the pursuit at 91st Avenue and I-10, police said.

The chase continued for about 45 minutes and almost 30 miles. While police were following the vehicle, two men got out and fled on foot, Howard said. Both men were taken into custody, one by Phoenix police officers and one with the help of a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office canine unit, Howard said.

Del Rio continued driving, discarding evidence along the way, Howard said.

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  • Great job LEO, Save the taxpayers of AZ. the shore of having to support these scumbags!