Jesus Flores Killed in Phoenix Police Shooting

Jesus Gonzalez Flores, of Avondale, Died Following Officer-Involved Shooting Near Interstate 17 in Phoenix

PHOENIX, ARIZONA (April 5, 2026) – A 41-year-old man identified as Jesus Flores has tragically died in a Phoenix police shooting by 19th Avenue and Durango Street.

Phoenix police officials are saying the incident took place around 9:00 p.m. on February 27. Officers were called to the area to assist DPS troopers who required help.

Footage from that night shows officers taking cover behind a vehicle. The squeal of tires can be heard in the background. Smoke also began to fill the air as a result of the tires.

Officers can be seen moving from one side of the roadway to another in an attempt to pin a vehicle driven by Jesus Flores. Officers broke his window with a less-lethal beanbag round.

At some point shortly after that incident, at least one officer opened fire into the vehicle with his rifle. The officers at the scene were eventually able to pull the victim from his vehicle.

Paramedics were called to the scene to help him. Sadly, Jesus Flores was pronounced dead at the scene. A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Phoenix Police Shootings

Police officers in Arizona have a legal obligation to use the least amount of force necessary for any given encounter. A police department can be liable for the excessive force of their officers. According to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of law, deprives someone of their rights afforded under the Constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. There are several ways that police officers may have acted improperly leading up to any deadly encounter.

• Officers may have failed to use de-escalation techniques.
• Officers may have failed to identify that a suspect may be suffering from a mental health crisis.
• Officers may have failed to take into consideration a suspect’s physical disabilities.
• Officers may have rushed into an encounter without properly assessing the situation.

A large portion of police shootings involved officers who are dealing with people in the midst of a mental health crisis. Part of the problem is that many of these officers are not particularly well trained to handle these types of encounters. Another major issue is that police departments will not properly discipline problematic officers. In many different instances, officers involved in a fatal shooting will have numerous complaints of misconduct against them.

Steps to Take After Phoenix Police Shootings

Far too many people are killed or seriously injured in police encounters every year. According to Cronkite News, “Since 2013, police have killed 185 people in Phoenix, the nation’s fifth biggest city. Only Los Angeles and Houston, which both have more residents, have higher death tolls, according to Mapping Police Violence, a database that tracks deaths attributed to law enforcement.” Several actions should be taken after any police shooting.

• All medical records related to the incident should be preserved.
• Body camera footage from all officers involved should be collected.
• The circumstances leading up to the shooting should be understood.
• Any potential misconduct with the officers involved should be investigated.
• The family of any person killed should seek an independent review by a team experienced in constitutional law.

Police shootings in Arizona are often highly preventable. They tend to involve situations where officers were either unwilling or unable to de-escalate encounters. To make matters worse, police departments will virtually never accept that they did anything wrong. The family of any person who died in a shooting is able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil action. There are, however, statutes of limitations associated with these claims. It is always best to act with a sense of urgency.

Investigating Phoenix Police Shootings

We at The Law Offices of John Phebus extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jesus Flores. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Many different questions remain unanswered at this time.

Do you need more information about a Phoenix police shooting? Our team of civil rights advocates is here for you. We care deeply that the victims of police brutality are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (623) 267-9283.