Authorities have identified the officers involved in a deadly police shooting on Friday.
A release from the Casa Grande Police Department says officers Bryan Martinez, Jeremy Ybarra and Efren Lujan fired their weapons after a suspect charged at them with a machete.
Police were initially called to the scene near 10th Street and Pinal Avenue for a report of a person attempting to harm himself with a knife. Once officers started talking to the man, he went inside a home and re-emerged with with machete.
Friday Casa Grande police said they responded to a 911 call of a man trying to harm himself with a knife, but the family said they didn’t call police, and they don't know who did.
Officials say the officers tried using bean bags and a Taser before resorting to lethal force. The suspect, 48-year-old Gabriel Parker, was taken to Banner Casa Grande Medical Center, where he later died.
“They (family) asked the cops to stop, to leave. They were making things worse," said Lily Velarde, Parker's sister.
According to police, Parker came toward them with a machete. His family claims that’s not true.
“It was instant. It was three shots (bean bags) and then they went lethal," said Dario Chabarria, Parker's nephew.
All of this unfolding before a terrified family.
“Right before they shot him, his son ran up, and he told him, 'I love you,'” said Raymond Herrera, Parker's other nephew.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety has taken over the investigation, according to a release from the Casa Grande Police Department. The three officers have been placed on administrative duties pending the outcome of the investigation.
