Glendale police identifies suspect killed in officer-involved shooting

GLENDALE, Ariz. (KSAZ) -- Glendale police have identified the suspect who died in an officer-involved shooting Tuesday evening.

According to a statement released Wednesday afternoon, the suspect was identified as 23-year-old Skyler Martin. Martin walked away from a supervised off-site Department of Corrections work crew at the Maricopa County Animal Shelter in February, and on Tuesday, officers with the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force was able to locate Martin at a home near the 2700 block of E. Baseline Road in Phoenix.

Martin, according to the statement, made contact with a uniformed Glendale K-9 officer and his K-9 partner, after he fled from a home and climbed over a backyard wall onto the south side of Baseline. Martin then fired a weapon at the officer and the K-9, and in response, the officer returned fire. Martin suffered life-threatening injuries, and died from his injuries.

The K-9 officer, identified by Glendale Police as a six-year-old Belgian Malinois who has been with Glendale police for four years, was taken to an animal hospital, and is in stable condition. The officer's identity was not released.

According to Glendale police, Martin was sentenced in April 2017 to 7.5 years in prison for an Aggravated DUI conviction, and has prior criminal history consisting of arrests and previous probation convictions of theft, 3rd degree burglary, marijuana violation, narcotic drug violation, drug paraphernalia violation, assault, 2nd degree escape, car theft, and promoting prison contraband.

Phoenix police, according to the statement, is investigating the incident, with cooperation from Glendale police and the U.S. Marshals.