Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Homicide detectives are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding a Deputy-involved shooting, which occurred early this morning at approximately 9:00 a.m. The shooting took place at 175 West Tepee in Apache Junction.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team was assisting the Department of Public Safety with the service of a high risk search warrant at the listed address for an ongoing criminal investigation. When MCSO SWAT arrived on scene they encountered a woman who exited the home and advised MCSO there was a man inside the home and he was possibly armed.
SWAT began negotiations with the suspect in an attempt to get him to come out of the house peacefully. The suspect communicated with negotiators he was not going to exit the home. SWAT deployed gas into the home where the suspect was located. Moments later the suspect was seen coming out the front bedroom window of the home. It was at this time the suspect produced a weapon and was involved in a shooting with a SWAT deputy. The suspect was shot and transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The deceased is 53 year old Larry Eugene Kurtley Jr. (08/30/1962). In addition to being the subject of the search warrant he was also wanted on a felony warrant out of Pinal County for Misconduct Involving weapons, possession of narcotics drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and a Glendale City warrant for misdemeanor trespassing.
Whenever an Officer Involved Shooting occurs involving a Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputy and it results in the shooting of a suspect, multiple independent investigations immediately begin at the scene. These include separate investigations by the Pinal County Attorney’s Office in addition to investigations by Sheriff’s Homicide detectives and Professional Standards Bureau. Once concluded, every aspect of the shooting is reviewed by a Use of Force Review Committee.
This investigation is on-going and there is no additional information available at this time.