Mesa Police: Man shot dead by officers is suspect in nail salon murder

MESA, Ariz. (KSAZ) - Mesa police are investigating an officer involved shooting at the Monte Vista Trailer Park Community at near Ellsworth and Baseline.

According to a statement released by Sgt. Diana T. Williams with Mesa Police, detectives were following up on a lead related to a February 2 deadly stabbing at a nail salon that took them to a trailer park community where an adult male who may have been involved in the murder lives. Investigators, according to Mesa Police, later gathered enough evidence to arrest the 36-year-old man, identified by police on Saturday as Christopher Race.

According to police, when officers approached the man, he advanced towards them while reaching for something in his waistband. Officers saw a knife in the suspect's hands, and deployed beanbag rounds at him.

The suspect, according to police, continue to advance towards officers, and one of the officers was forced to fire his duty weapon. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Saturday, Mesa Police officials said Race's DNA matched blood evidence collected at the nail salon murder scene. A search of Race's home also found several knives.

Police say they are working to establish a motive.

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