Man killed by police unidentified
Suspect pulled gun on officers, spokesman says

Dennis Wagner
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 8, 2003 12:00 AM

CENTRAL PHOENIX - Police have yet to identify a man who was killed by two officers late Saturday night after he pulled a pistol and opened fire on them inside a motel room.

Sgt. Randy Force said Officers David Kwan, 39, and Jeremy Barr, 23, were following leads in an auto theft case when they went to Budget Suites of America, 611 W. Indian School Road.

Force said the officers were speaking to a man and woman in one of the units when they noticed drug paraphernalia. After the woman was led outside to a patrol car, Force said, the man muttered, "I'm not going back for something like this," then pulled a semi-automatic handgun from his waistband.

Force said the man lunged forward and started shooting. He said both officers shot back, but the man didn't fall until he was hit at point-blank range.

"We know our officers fired a lot of shots. We know he fired at least several shots," Force added. "At six to 10 feet, it's amazing an officer wasn't hurt."

The man, about 30 years old, has not yet been identified. Force said his female companion knew him only by a pseudonym.

Under department policy, Kwan and Barr have been placed on three days of paid leave pending an administrative review and a criminal investigation.

Reach the reporter at dennis.wagner@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8874.