Maricopa County Attorney Will Not File Charges In Fatal Police Shooting

By Vaughan Jones
Published: Friday, January 29, 2021 - 4:34pm
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Maricopa County Attorney's Office
Allister Adel

Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel has decided not to file charges in the fatal police shooting of an Ahwatukee Foothills man who was killed just a few seconds after opening his front door.

Around 11 p.m. on May 22, two officers knocked on the apartment of Ryan Whitaker, responding to a neighbor’s report of possible domestic violence. Whitaker answered the door holding a gun. As he was ordered to drop it, he appeared to be kneeling as one of the officers fired three shots, striking him twice in the back. 

The shooting was reviewed by an independent use-of-force expert, who said the officer reasonably feared for his life and had to make a split-second decision. 

In a statement announcing that she would not file charges, Adel said “when Mr. Whitaker came out the door with a gun in his hand, it was reasonable for the officers to conclude that he meant them harm.”

The Phoenix City Council voted unanimously in December to approve a $3 million settlement with Whitaker’s family.