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law enforcement
Chandler Police ID man shot and killed New Year's Day
Suspect killed after threatening to harm daughter
A man was killed by Chandler Police early Thursday evening in a vehicle-stop incident, according to a news release.
Courtesy of Chandler Police
A man was killed by Chandler Police early Thursday evening in a vehicle-stop incident has been identified, according to a news release.
Gerald Lee Philpot Jr., 41, was killed in a confrontation with police, the release states.
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A man was killed by Chandler Police early Thursday evening in a vehicle-stop incident has been identified, according to a news release.
Gerald Lee Philpot Jr., 41, was killed in a confrontation with police, the release states.
Police stated that just before 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, Philpot called Chandler Police and made threats to harm his young daughter, who was in the vehicle with him, police stated.
Chandler Police dispatch then routed the call to an on-duty crisis negotiator, who began attempts to de-escalate the situation, they stated.
After continued communication in which the man repeated threats toward the child, officers stopped Philpot's vehicle near the 200 block of N. McQueen Road, just north of Chandler Boulevard.
During the encounter, officers urged Philpot to release the child from his vehicle, police stated. He continued making threats against the child and claimed to have a blade in his possession.
Due to the potential of an imminent threat to the child’s well-being, two officers fired multiple shots at Philpot, police stated. Officers then removed the child from the vehicle and performed lifesaving first aid on Philpot, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The child was not physically harmed and was later reunited with her mother, Chandler Police stated. No officers were harmed.
A knife was located in the vehicle during the investigation.
The Mesa Police Department will lead the investigation in accordance with the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team contract.
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