In the early morning hours of May 24, 2022, a fatal encounter unfolded in a Phoenix neighborhood that left a 27-year-old man, Patrick Pierson, dead. The incident occurred around 4:50 a.m. near 20th Street and Palm Lane. Authorities were initially called to the scene for a report of a theft from a vehicle.
Upon their arrival, Phoenix Police officers discovered a crashed vehicle with Pierson inside. He was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
Emergency medical services from the Phoenix Fire Department responded to the scene but pronounced Pierson deceased. The events leading up to the shooting began when two men found Pierson near their vehicle and confronted him.
Following the confrontation, Pierson got into his own vehicle in an attempt to leave. It was at this point that the suspects shot him. Pierson's vehicle then crashed a short distance away. The two adult male suspects remained at the location and were detained by the responding officers. They were subsequently arrested and faced booking for 2nd Degree Murder in connection with the shooting death of Patrick Pierson.
