By admin 
QUEEN CREEK, AZ (AZFamily) — Newly released body camera video and 911 calls show the tense moments when police shot and killed an armed man earlier this year.
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Queen Creek police said the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office received a call Feb. 10 just after 5 p.m. about a driver later identified as 23-year-old Gaven Johnson. Authorities said Johnson was involved in a hit-and-run crash in a stolen car that ended in a ditch near Ocotillo and Gantzel roads, then left the scene in another vehicle headed toward Queen Creek.
In a dispatch call, the sheriff’s office told Queen Creek police the vehicle was stolen out of Maricopa County and that Johnson was armed. Police later said Johnson had multiple active warrants for probation violations, a history of violent offenses and had made threats about “shooting it out with the cops.”
Around 5:22 p.m., Queen Creek officers said they spotted a man walking west on Queen Creek Road who matched Johnson’s description. Police said he ran and jumped into a backyard in the Ironwood Crossing neighborhood near Meridian and Queen Creek roads.
Multiple 911 calls followed, including from residents who reported someone in their backyard asking for help.
“There’s police all over our street and a guy approached our back door asking for help,” one caller told a dispatcher.
“There’s a large police presence in our neighborhood, and I saw someone come into our backyard. I’m not sure if he saw us in here,” another caller said.
Police set up a perimeter and issued a shelter-in-place alert for the neighborhood. In one body camera video, an officer can be heard over a loudspeaker telling Johnson to surrender.
On another video, a homeowner showed an officer security camera video in their backyard that showed Johnson armed with a handgun.
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“For Gaven, come on out with your hands up and empty. We know you are armed. You are under arrest!” the officer said.
Just after 7 p.m., officers entered the backyard of a home on West Joshua Tree Avenue, along with a K-9 unit. Police said officers initially thought a large tarp found in the backyard covered a dog, but then realized it was Johnson.
“Hey, is that a person?” an officer can be heard asking on body camera video.
“Put your hands up now or you’re going to be shot!” another officer yelled.
Police said the K-9 alerted officers Johnson was under the tarp, and as he moved, officers saw a gun in his hand.
“Oh, he’s got a gun! Gun! Gun! Gun!” an officer can be heard shouting before gunfire erupts.
Johnson died at the scene, police said.
Authorities said a spent cartridge casing was found, and they are investigating whether Johnson fired.
Police said one officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital. Two other officers had minor injuries and were treated at the scene. The K-9 was not hurt.
The shooting is being investigated by the Mesa Police Department.
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