Mesa officers shoot, kill armed suspect during traffic stop

A man, who has not been identified, died at the scene of an officer-involved shooting early Tuesday after he fled during a traffic stop, Mesa police said.

Officers conducted the stop about 1:42 a.m. near Extension Road and University Drive. They contacted the vehicle’s occupants, and during questioning, the vehicle fled, police said.

Officers later found the vehicle near Country Club Drive and 6th Street in Mesa.  The man who was driving was seen running from the area, according to a Mesa Police Department release. Two officers shot at the man just before 2 a.m., striking him.

He died at the scene, and a firearm was found nearby, police said.

No officers or other community members were injured during the incident.

The shooting is being investigated by the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team, with the Gilbert Police Department serving as the primary investigating agency.