Suspect in Mesa officer involved shooting identified

Mesa Police officials have identified the suspect in Tuesday's officer involved shooting.

In a statement released Wednesday evening, police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Joseph Villafan. Villafan, who has been released from the hospital Wednesday, has been charged with a number of charges, including count of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon by a prohibited possessor, discharging a firearm in city limits, and theft of means of transportation.

According to court documents, Villafan had prior criminal records, and during the incident Tuesday, he fled from police, told witnesses that he was not going back to jail, and that he would fire a gun at police who are trying to arrest him.