Chandler officer fatally shoots man waving gun near major intersection, PD says

A Chandler officer on Thursday afternoon shot a man who police said was waving a gun near the intersection of Dobson and Warner roads, authorities said.

The suspect, Romero Anthony Hernandez, was taken to a hospital where he died, police said.

Officers were called just before 3:30 p.m. Aug. 27 after receiving a report of a man, later identified as Hernandez, holding a gun and pointing it in different directions.

Hernandez ignored multiple commands to drop the gun, according to a Chandler Police Department release, and an officer fired a single round, striking him and causing him to drop his weapon.

Officers began lifesaving measures, and Hernandez was taken to a hospital where he later died.

A gun was located next to Hernandez, and he had an additional firearm, police said.

No officers were hurt, and there were no injuries to bystanders. The officer who fired his duty weapon has been with the department for about three years, police said.

This incident is being investigated by the Mesa Police Department under the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team protocol.

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