Home invasion ends with officer-involved shooting, suspect killed

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - A large crime scene unfolded in a neighborhood near 24th Street and University after a suspect was shot and killed by police.

Authorities say this all started around 1:30 a.m. Thursday with a home invasion near 67th Avenue and Thomas Road. Five suspects were at the scene and one was able to get away in a vehicle.

Police believe a fight started when the suspects entered the home. Three of the suspects ended up taking off from the scene and two of them jumped over a fence in the backyard. When officers arrived at the scene, they realized this was a drug related situation and took the three people inside the home into custody and began looking for the five suspects. Three of those suspects have not been found.

Shortly after arriving at the scene, police say the two suspects who jumped the fence, returned to the backyard and entered the home again. One of the suspects surrendered, the other stole a vehicle and took off from the scene erratically -- knocking over trash bins. Police say that he did have a weapon. At this time, it is unclear whether or not he fired at officers, but we are told officers did not fire at him. The suspect left the scene, but the situation did not end here.

Police were able to track down suspect "..to another location near 2nd and Jones.. that's when the suspect made it inside a of a home, the officer set up on the vehicle, put tire spikes behind the car, the suspect made it back into that vehicle and left that location. The spikes apparently did their job.. disabling tires. We know that because the white SUV.. the driver lost control, crashed into a tree here near the northbound transition.. the driver then got out and ran eastbound.. turned and presented a weapon at the officers.. that's when a sergeant opened fire, ended the threat. The suspect has been pronounced deceased," explained Sgt. Vince Lewis.

Lewis adds that the home invasion scene is secure and no injuries have been reported from that location.

No officers were injured.