Scottsdale Police Shooting Leaves One Dead, K9 Injured

Scottsdale Police Shooting Leaves One Dead, K9 Injured

By Ciara Perez, News Reporter | iSkyNews.com (ISC News)

Published March 9, 2025

A police-involved shooting in Scottsdale late Friday night left one man dead and a police K9 injured. The Mesa Police Department is now handling the investigation.

It all started around 10:13 p.m., when officers were called to a scene where 42-year-old Joseph Santos was allegedly threatening someone with a gun on the road. By the time police arrived, Santos had already taken off.

A patrol unit later spotted his vehicle and tried to pull him over, but he fled again. While officers were speaking with the victim, Santos suddenly returned, pulling in right behind a police car.

Despite multiple warnings, Santos refused to cooperate and kept reaching behind him inside his vehicle. Officers deployed a K9 unit to try and de-escalate the situation, but when he continued reaching for an unknown object, one officer fired his weapon, hitting both Santos and the K9.

Santos died at the scene. The K9 was taken to a veterinary clinic, where it was treated and is now in stable condition.

Authorities say there is no ongoing threat to the community, and the investigation remains open. More details will be shared as they become available.

Stay with iSkyNews.com for the latest updates on this developing story.

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