Phoenix Police Shoot Woman After She Points a Gun-Shaped Butane Lighter at Officer

* (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) *
Phoenix, Arizona — On May 22, 2023, Phoenix Police received a call about a woman who was unresponsive inside of a running vehicle in a nearby parking lot in the area of 35th Avenue and Glendale Avenue. Two officers responded to the area and located the vehicle. Initially the woman was not responsive but appeared to wake up as officers were in the parking lot. She was given commands to put the vehicle in park and instead drove out of the parking lot. Officers followed the vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop. The vehicle pulled over in a nearby apartment complex where the driver was given multiple commands to turn the vehicle off and throw the keys out of the car. The woman did not comply with any of these commands and again took off from officers.

The Phoenix Police helicopter was overhead and followed the car for about 15 minutes until it was in the area of 19th Avenue and Phelps Drive. This is where officers with the Tactical Support Bureau immobilized the vehicle. Once the vehicle was stopped, officers positioned themselves around the vehicle. Officers gave multiple commands for the woman to show her hands and turn off the car. The woman did not comply and produced an object perceived to be a handgun and pointed it at an officer. This is when multiple officers discharged their firearms. After the shooting, the woman was ordered to show her hands and did not fully comply. An officer deployed two rounds from a less lethal 40 mm launcher at the driver’s window to remove the glass giving officers a clearer view of the woman.

The deployment of the 40 mm did not remove the glass. An officer used an OC spray Mark 9 canister to deliver an irritant into the car to coax the woman out. After the OC spray, officers broke out the driver’s door window. The woman got out of the car through the open window and was taken into custody. Officers provided medical aid to the woman until the Phoenix Fire Department arrived. She was taken to the hospital where she was treated for her injuries. The object believed to be a handgun that the woman had was found on scene. It was later determined to be a butane lighter resembling a handgun. The woman, later identified as 40-year-old Melissa Ann Larue, was released from the hospital on May 26 and arrested shortly thereafter.

A records check found that Larue had a history of having outstanding felony warrants for fraud and failure to appear for a sentencing reference for robbery, forgery and dangerous and narcotic drug possession, according to court documents. Court documents state that a search of Larue’s vehicle produced the lighter, 500 blue pills marked M30 (fentanyl), 27.3 grams of heroin, 4.7 grams of methamphetamine and a small bag of marijuana with an assortment of related equipment. Larue was booked into jail and is facing multiple charges including two counts of aggravated assault with a simulated deadly weapon, one count of dangerous drug possession, possession of dangerous drugs for sale, narcotic drug possession, narcotic drug possession for sale, unlawful flight from law enforcement and resisting arrest.

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Timestamps:
0:00 – 911 Call
0:18 – Bodycam: Officer #1
1:04 – Bodycam: Officer #2
2:28 – Bodycam: Officer #3
2:43 – Bodycam: Officer #4
3:01 – Bodycam: Officer #5
4:38 – Patreon Supporters

** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) **