On the evening of September 28, 2020, a violent encounter in a Chandler, Arizona neighborhood ended in the death of 50-year-old Michael Payne, a Black/African American man. The sounds of gunfire prompted a police response to the area of Colorado and Elgin streets, near Arizona Avenue and Frye Road, around 9 p.m. What was initially described as a 'serious critical incident' was soon confirmed to be a fatal shooting.
First responders arrived to find that two individuals had been involved
in the shooting. Michael Payne was pronounced dead at the scene from gunshot wounds. The other individual connected to the incident was immediately taken into police custody. Authorities at the time assured the community that there were no other individuals involved in the shooting and that there was no further danger to the public.
In the immediate aftermath, the Chandler police stated that their investigation was ongoing as they worked to determine the events that led to the deadly confrontation. While one person was detained, no formal arrests were announced at the time. The circumstances surrounding the shooting and what may have precipitated it remained under active investigation by the Chandler Police Department.
