Police investigating officer-involved shooting incident at Phoenix Walmart
Phoenix AZ March 6th, 2023 Phoenix police are investigating an officer-involved shooting incident at a Walmart located near 35th and Southern avenues.
The Phoenix Police Department said the officer involved was an off-duty officer in full uniform, who was working security at the Walmart.
The incident happened at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
According to police, shots were fired by the officer after the store’s loss prevention employee spotted a shoplifter. The employee confronted the suspect, who pulled a weapon out. The off-duty officer fired a shot toward the suspect but did not hit the individual.
Police have identified the suspect involved as David Apana, 35.
According to police said Apana had a handgun.
“During the interaction Apana pulled out a firearm and pointed it towards the loss prevention employee and towards the officer who was nearby,” police said. “The officer reacted to Apana’s actions and fired his gun. It did not appear Apana was hit.”
Police said after the officer fired, Apana ran back toward the center of the store and eventually made it outside. Responding officers saw Apana running into an nearby neighborhood. Police set up a perimeter and were able to find Apana and take him into custody.
No one was injured in the incident.
Apana was booked into the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Jail and is facing multiple possible felony charges including Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer and Armed Robbery.
