MARANA, Ariz - Marana police released body cam footage of an officer-involved shooting. It happened on March 31 near Silverbell Road and Continental Reserve Loop. The suspect Juan Padilla was shot and killed.
The video is graphic and disturbing. In the video, Officer Steven Copp arrived at the house and found the homeowner, a man lying in the front yard. He told the officer two people were inside, screaming could be heard.
According to police reports, the female called 911 when she woke up and saw a man stabbing the homeowner.
When Marana Police Department arrived that man began stabbing the female who was screaming for help.
Officer Copp asked the suspect 11 times to drop the knife. At one point he told Padilla to drop the knife or he was going to kill him. Padilla responded “Go ahead and shoot me,” he moved towards the officer with a knife in his hand.
The officer fired three shots and killed Padilla.
The Pima County Attorney’s office sent a letter last Tuesday to the Marana Police Department stating “Officer Copp was justified in his use of deadly physical force against Mr. Padilla.”
“You have to make a decision ‘am I going to let this go any further?’ “ said Marana Police Chief Terry Rozema. He added the suspect had already stabbed the victim seven times. “‘Was he going to stab her an eighth time? Or was the officer going to let the suspect stab him.”
The autopsy report showed Padilla had alcohol and fentanyl in his system.
Neither victim knew Padilla, police said they had all met the night before downtown.
Chief Rozema believes if Officer Copp had not taken the action he did, there could have been two homicides. So he not only saved the victims lives but his own as well.
🛑 About this video 🛑
This video is released STRICTLY for news and documentary purposes only. It is not intended to glorify violence in any way nor do we condone it.
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