Police on Monday shot dead a young man who reportedly became belligerent at a north Phoenix city park after he was turned away from using the swimming pool, officials said.
The shooting occurred shortly after 1 p.m. at Telephone Pioneers of America Park at 1946 W. Morningside Dr., near Union Hills Drive.
The man, whose identity was not immediately available, was dead at the scene, Phoenix fire officials said. There are conflicting reports about why the man was turned away.
Phoenix Parks Department spokesman David Urbinato said the man was turned away by park staff because he did not have a bathing suit. A police spokesman said investigators are looking into the possibility that the man was denied access because there was a private swim lesson given at the time.
Sgt. Trent Crump said a man who showed up with his 4-year-old child for swim lessons saw the young man in the parking lot with a baseball bat acting “high” and “behaving erratically,” including threatening a child. The man called 911. Independently, park staff also called 911 on the man for reportedly striking a stick or bat against the building.
Two responding police officers contacted the man and at some point, he charged the officers, Crump said. Each officer fired two to three rounds, Crump said.
The swimming pool, which operates between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., has been closed for the remainder of the day, Urbinato said.
Access to other parts of the park may also be restricted, Urbinato said. No other details were immediately available.