Suspect dies after confrontation with officers
MESA, Ariz. — Police are investigating the death of a suspect in a fatal stabbing who opened fire after leading officers on a short pursuit, authorities said Wednesday.
One officer discharged his service weapon during Tuesday night's incident, but police do not know if Cesar Enriquez, 27, died as a result of police fire or a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Sgt. Esteban Flores, a Mesa police spokesman.
Officers were called at about 10:15 p.m. MST on reports that shots had been fired, Flores said. Enriquez led officers on a short foot pursuit before he confronted an officer with a gun and fired one shot into the air.
One officer fired at Enriquez, police said. No officers were injured.
Enriquez had been a suspect in a Queen Creek, Ariz., homicide earlier Tuesday before his altercation with Mesa Police, according to the Maricopa County Sherrif's Office. Lindsay Esparaza, 28, was found stabbed multiple times inside a home there.
Contributing: The Associated Press