On Friday, May 8th, 2015 at 11:34 p.m. Detectives from the Pinal County Sheriff’s – Criminal Investigations Bureau were requested by the Kearny Police Department to investigate an officer involved shooting. Detectives responded to a residence in the 59700 block of East Bidegain Place, Kearny.
Detectives learned that at 11:03 p.m., a female called 9-1-1 to report that her husband had returned to their house. The dispatcher could hear yelling and screaming in the background. The husband was later identified as Shaun Johnson (age 35).
Kearny police officers told detectives, they had contacted Shaun Johnson earlier in the evening after he had been asked to leave a local bar because of a disturbance he was causing. As Kearny Police Officers arrived in the neighborhood, they saw the female reporting party walking down the street with her children. They spoke briefly with her and learned her husband was inside of the residence.
Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “As two officers walked up towards the residence, Shaun Johnson came charging out at them and was swinging a Samurai Sword. The officers gave repeated verbal commands for him to drop the sword but he refused. Shaun then turned and ran behind the residence, while still carrying the sword. As officers chased after him, they rounded a corner and Shaun was waiting for them with the sword above his head in a striking stance. An officer who was 6 to 8 feet away from him feared for his safety and fired four rounds from his department issued handgun striking Shaun in the chest. Shaun received emergency medical attention at the scene but was pronounced deceased.”
PCSO Detectives are continuing with the investigation at this time.