Bodycam Footage Shows Phoenix Police Shooting of Robbery Suspect

Phoenix Police have released edited body camera footage that shows the fatal officer-involved shooting of a robbery suspect earlier this month. The incident occurred on September 8, 2024, near 35th Avenue and Fillmore Street in Phoenix, Arizona, United States.

Police were responding to a 911 call reporting an armed robbery. The caller told dispatchers that a man, later identified as 32-year-old Ote-Tee Brooks Nalwood, had threatened her father with a gun and stolen his cell phone. Officers located a man matching Nalwood’s description and initiated a confrontation.

The first responding officer positioned himself at the back of his patrol SUV, aimed his firearm, and ordered Nalwood to keep his hands up. According to the bodycam recording, the officer warned Nalwood that force would be used if he did not comply. As the officer waited for backup, he relayed that the suspect was not cooperating.

When a second patrol unit arrived, the first officer slowly moved his SUV into the rear of Nalwood’s vehicle. The officers attempted to approach from the driver’s side door. At this moment, the first officer fired multiple shots through the rear driver’s side window. Another officer simultaneously fired through the rear window from behind. Nalwood then accelerated his vehicle forward before it appeared to become stuck.

Additional officers deployed pepper balls through the broken rear window. At that time, Nalwood reportedly raised a handgun, prompting one officer to fire his rifle multiple times into the vehicle. Nalwood could be heard screaming as officers continued commanding him to raise his hands.

Once additional resources arrived, officers approached the vehicle, removed Nalwood, and began rendering medical aid. The Phoenix Fire Department transported him to a nearby hospital, where he later died. No other injuries were reported.

The officers involved are assigned to the South Mountain Precinct and have between two and eight years of service. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.