In what has been described as a tragic workplace accident, Scottsdale Police Detective Ryan So, a 38-year-old Caucasian male, died on June 13, 2024. A nine-year veteran of the department and a U.S. Navy veteran, he was fatally injured following the execution of a search warrant and arrest operation.
The incident occurred in the evening as detectives from the Special Assignment Unit were unloading equipment from a vehicle near 76th Street and Greenway Road.
While Detective So was moving a bag, a rifle stored inside fell to the pavement. The impact caused the weapon to discharge, and Detective So was struck by the round. His fellow detectives immediately provided aid, and he was rushed to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The Mesa Police Department, as part of the East Valley Critical Response Team, conducted a thorough investigation into the death. Their findings, along with reviews from the Scottsdale Police Department, the Industrial Commission of Arizona, and the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health, all concluded that the shooting was an accident and there was no evidence of criminal intent or misconduct. No criminal charges were recommended.
The investigation did reveal that the rifle belonged to another officer, Detective Juan Espinoza Roa. The weapon had been stored with a live round in the chamber, the bolt closed in the firing position, and the safety off. For what was deemed a policy violation, Detective Roa was disciplined with 160 hours of unpaid suspension. The death of Detective So, a husband and father of three, marked only the second line-of-duty death in the history of the Scottsdale Police Department.
