Phoenix police ID officer who fatally shot homicide suspect

Phoenix police have released the identity of one of its officers who fatally shot a homicide suspect last week after he reportedly shot at the police officer. 

Officer Justin Wechsler, 39, shot and killed Rene Enrique Ruiz, 51, who was under police surveillance Aug. 30 because he was wanted as a suspect in an Aug. 17 homicide, according to the Phoenix Police Department. Wechsler has served as a police officer for 20 years, the agency said.

Police say the incident began around 8 a.m. in the area of 3900 W. Buckeye Road where police detectives and officers were conducting surveillance on Ruiz and observed him leaving the area in a vehicle. 

When attempting to stop Ruiz near 43rd Avenue and Buckeye Road, police say he refused to stop and sped off. The Phoenix police helicopter followed the vehicle and observed it stop near 87th Avenue and Polk Street, according to police.

Police say Ruiz rammed into an undercover police vehicle when officers tried to contain the vehicle and then drove to 91st Avenue and Van Buren Street when his vehicle became disabled.

Armed with a handgun, Ruiz reportedly attempted to carjack another vehicle in the area, according to police. 

An officer used his vehicle to force the suspect to the ground after which Ruiz fired his gun at an approaching officer but did not strike him, police report. The officer, who was identified Wednesday as Wechsler, then fired his gun at Ruiz, police say.

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Ruiz was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to police. 

No other injuries were reported. 

The officers were not wearing body camera at the time of the incident, nor did they have dashboard cameras set up, Phoenix police spokeswoman Sgt. Maggie Cox told The Arizona Republic. 

Reach the reporter at chelsea.curtis@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @curtis_chels. 

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