Man shot, killed in fight with Phoenix police

PHOENIX - A 34-year-old man is dead, shot by a Phoenix police officer Sunday night.

Police say the man allegedly kidnapped and assaulted of his former girlfriend.

Officer James Holmes said the man and woman broke up 10 years ago, but he returned three months ago and took her to a border town near Mexicali.

He had apparently brought the woman back to Phoenix to see her children when the man and the woman's brothers got into a fight around 8 p.m. after they learned of the assaults on the woman.

The suspect started running away and one of the brothers called 911.

The first responding officer saw the suspect near 71st Avenue and Thomas Road and stopped him for questioning.

Holmes said the suspect almost immediately began fighting with the officer and tried to grab the officer's handgun with both hands.

During the struggle, the officer got control of his service weapon and fired at the suspect.

Officers performed CPR and administered aid to the suspect at the scene before he was taken to a hospital where he died.

Police say the suspect was allegedly a gang member from California.

The officer is 27 years old and has been with the department for four years, police said. He suffered minor injuries in the scuffle.

The investigation is continuing.