Police: Man in body armor shot after pointing gun at officers

Police say a man wearing body armor was shot several times after pointing a gun at officers in Phoenix on Tuesday night.

Phoenix police say the incident began when officers responded to reports of a man threatening a woman near 38th Street and Van Buren at 7:30 p.m. When police arrived at the scene, they found the suspect, who was armed and appeared to be wearing body armor.

When officers tried to talk to the suspect, he ran from police, hid behind a police vehicle and pointed a gun at officers. The officers then opened fire on the suspect, who got away and hid behind an electrical box.

Once again, the suspect pointed his gun at police and at least four officers fired at the suspect, hitting him several times. The electrical box was also hit during the shooting and as a result, power was knocked out to dozens of homes in the area.

"Officers did locate a handgun where the suspect was arrested and officers located ballistic body armor," Sgt. Mercedes Fortune said.

The suspect was transported to nearby hospital where he is expected to survive. His identity has not been released.

Van Buren from 35th to 38th Streets, was reopened just before 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

>>VIDEO from the scene: facebook.com/FOX10Phoenix/videos/1140651825983363