Not a surprise. No charges for Phoenix Police officer who mistakenly shot and killed homeowner | FOX 10 Phoenix
The backstory: The officer in question, Jason Valenzuela, was involved in a shooting that killed Christian Diaz on Jan. 26, 2026. Diaz had disarmed an intruder at his home near 75th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road.
He basically showed up, shouted, and opened fire in a handful of seconds.
Qualified Immunity is lovely, if you're a cop.
Nothing will happen to the cop who shot this guy. Family: Phoenix Police killed father who was subduing home intruder | FOX 10 Phoenix
Relatives of Christian Diaz say a Phoenix Police officer fatally shot the father Monday evening while he was subduing an armed intruder who had broken into his home and wounded his son.
But don't worry. Other cops are investigating the cops.
Gonzalez said Diaz and another man eventually tackled the gunman and disarmed him just before police arrived. According to the family, Diaz was still holding the intruder down when an officer opened fire.
"Be sure of your target" is apparently not something they teach in Phoenix.
Because of the doctrine of "qualified immunity," which should really be known as unqualified immunity, nothing will happen to this cop. He might have a few sleepless nights, but eventually the other cops will tell him he did nothing wrong enough that he will believe it.
Also, don't break into people's homes. This is yet another failure of the victim-selection process. Intruder fatally shot by Buckeye homeowner - KTAR
There was a banging on the door, so the mother answered the door. That is when 27-year-old Michael Diaz then forced his way inside the home.
A man who lived in the home then grabbed a handgun.
Just as Diaz broke through the security door and stepped inside the home, the male resident shot him, police said.
Police don't believe he knew the people who lived at the home. Was he looking for someone in particular, and he was in the wrong place? Was this a robbery? Are crazy people dangerous?
Buckeye, Arizona is about 25 miles due west of downtown Phoenix.
Since this didn't happen in New York City, there is no talk of arresting the shooter. Apparently self-defense is a thing in Arizona.
Self-defense is a human right.
If you break into homes, you will eventually find an armed homeowner. Man shot during alleged burglary at home in Phoenix
Officers responded to a 911 call about a burglary. While they were working on that incident, another 911 call came in.
While officers were working to find the suspect, they received another report in the neighborhood that a homeowner had shot the man after he allegedly forced entry into his house.
He is expected to survive.
The investigation is a long way from being complete. Arizona has history of recognizing your right to defend yourself.
Self-defense is a human right. Good Guys 1, Bad Guys 0.
Though why you would not expect a homeowner in Arizona to be armed is beyond me. Burglar shot dead by Phoenix homeowner, police say
Before the shooting, the homeowner called 911 around 7:43 a.m. to report that the man was in his backyard and trying to get into his house.
While he was on the phone with the 911 operator, the homeowner shot Hightower, police said.
Kwame Hightower was declared dead at the scene.
Given the number of stories like this I read, I am still surprised that I am surprised at the stupidity of criminals. What did this guy think was going to happen when he broke into an occupied home?
In any event, self-defense is a human right, and it appears to be your legal right in Arizona.
What would you do if you came home and found a stranger in your house? Homeowner shoots stranger inside her home near 43rd Ave and McDowell Rd
During an investigation, officers learned the homeowner went into her house and found an unknown woman inside. The homeowner shot the suspect.
She will survive to be charged, though that will have to wait for her to get out of the hospital.
Self-defense is a human right, and Arizona has a history of recognizing it as a legal right. Good Guys 1, Bad Guys 0.
Why would you not expect to meet an armed homeowner in Arizona? Phoenix burglary suspect shot by homeowner
Police said officers responded to the home and found a man, age 51, who had been shot. The man was taken to the hospital where he died.
As always, the investigation continues. And self-defense is a human right.
I'm guessing that this is what he expected to happen. Phoenix burglary suspect shot by homeowner
A man who reportedly broke into a home is dead after being shot by the homeowner, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
The homeowner was detained, but released after an interview.
The District Attorney will make the final determination about charges.
Self-defense is a human right.
This guy is lucky to be alive. Homeowner shoots alleged intruder in downtown Phoenix
Someone is breaking into your home in the middle of the night. What do you do?
Security cameras and no-trespassing signs did not deter this intruder. The homeowner says he lives with his baby, his wife, and his parents, and he’s glad this scary situation didn’t end worse.
So you have people that you want to protect. What do you do?
He says he was up late with his one-year-old son, who had trouble sleeping, when he heard his dogs barking. He grabbed his loaded gun and went to check it out. The father says he came face-to-face with the would-be intruder, who was later identified as 34-year-old Juan Mendez, and froze for a few seconds when they both opened the door simultaneously.
If you're confronted by an armed homeowner, you should leave. This guy didn't leave. He was shot twice in the leg. At that point, he decided to leave.
Cops caught up to Mendez a short time later. They took him to the hospital, and then they took him to jail.
Police have not released a possible motive for Mendez, but say the homeowner likely won’t face any charges because he was acting in self-defense. Mendez is facing charges of burglary and assault, according to authorities.
Self-defense is a human-right, and in Arizona, it appears to be your legal right.
It won't generally work out for you. MMA veteran Shannon Ritch claims self-defense after deadly shooting in Arizona - MMA Fighting
What follows is the police statement on the incident, which took place in Phoenix.
Preliminary investigation found the victim Alejandro Samplina got into a dispute with the victim/suspect Shannon Ritch over a parking issue. During the argument, Samplina produced a knife and chased Ritch around his vehicle. Ritch was able to retrieve his handgun from the open door of his vehicle. Samplina proceeded to walk towards Ritch with the knife in a threatening manner, in response Ritch fired one round, striking Samplina. Ritch remained on scene and was interview by detectives. Ritch provided a self-defense claim consistent with witnesses and surveillance video. He was released at the conclusion of the investigation; charges will be submitted to Maricopa County Attorney’s office for review.
I don't follow MMA, and so I can't tell you anything about Shannon Ritch. There is some information about him at the bottom of the linked article.
Ritch is older, so he didn't go right to beating the guy up, but why fight when you can rely on a tool.
Don't try to force your way into homes; it can be hazardous to the health. Man shot by homeowner while trying to force his way into Phoenix home: PD
A man who tried to force entry into a Phoenix home had to be taken to the hospital following a shooting, according to Phoenix police officials.
After he got shot he ran from the scene, but cops found him shortly afterward. The gunshot wound is not considered to be life-threatening.
While the investigation continues, Arizona has not yet morphed into a copy of New Jersey, and in Arizona self-defense is usually recognized as a legal right. Self-defense is, as always, a human right.
Arizona has a version of the Castle Doctrine, so invading an occupied home is not a good idea. PD: Intruder shot, killed by Phoenix homeowner overnight
Officials learned a man, identified as 30-year-old Ricky Gomez, had forced his way into a home in the area and the man living at the home shot him. Gomez died from his injuries at a hospital.
No arrests have been made because of the Castle Doctrine. Arizona actually has Stand Your Ground, but that doesn't really apply in this case, except that you are not required to retreat.
So, if someone is attacking you in Arizona, you're not obligated to try and run away before using force," [Craig] Rosenstein said.
Mr. Rosenstein is a criminal defense attorney who works with a self-defense education group called U.S. Law Shield.
They don't actually say how old he is, but he lives at home with his mother, and he defended her as well. Teen shoots man who was reportedly breaking into his west Phoenix house
The bad guy was trying to break into a home. That turned out to be a bad idea.
A woman and a teenage boy who lived in the home confronted the man as he was trying to force his way in.
That's when the teen reportedly shot the suspect.
The guy who got shot is expected to survive to face charges, though no one has said what those charges will be.
Self-defense is a human-right.
But then I thought it was. Deadly central Phoenix shooting was in self-defense, police say
There was a shooting Friday night in a Phoenix neighborhood.
When police arrived, they found 55-year-old Cal Smith with a gunshot wound. He was hospitalized in critical condition but did not survive.
An adult male at the scene was taken into custody.
The preliminary investigation came up with self-defense. They guy who had been detained was released, and the police are turning over their findings to the DA. It is the DA who will determine if charges are filed.
Self-defense is a human-right, and it appears to be your legal right in Arizona.
He suffered from a failure of the victim-selection process. South Phoenix homeowner shoots, kills intruder
Preliminary information suggests Holmes unlawfully entered the residence at which time there was a confrontation between Holmes and the homeowner, and that is when the homeowner shot Holmes, according to police.
Cops interviewed but did not arrest the homeowner. The final determination on charges rest with the DA's office.
Self-defense is a human-right.
Maybe he didn't think homeowners in Arizona are armed. Phoenix home invasion suspect shot and killed by homeowner, police say
Phoenix Police say a home invasion suspect is dead after a homeowner near downtown shot them Sunday night.
Officers responded to a home near 7th and Portland streets for reports of a residential burglary around 6:30 p.m. on April 9. That's where they found a man who had been shot.
Very little information has been released, but self-defense is a human-right.
I suppose that the gun-hating part of the Left would say she should make tea. Woman shoots man who tried to break into northwest Phoenix home, police say
Phoenix police say a man is dead after he tried to break into a northwest Phoenix home and was shot by the homeowner.
Cops didn't arrest her, but the case will be handed over the to DA once the investigation is finished.
Self-defense is a human-right. And Arizona is not Manhattan.
It was a bad idea. He could have gone to have a drink somewhere else. He could have gone home. He made a poor decision. Man shot, killed by a security guard in downtown Phoenix nightclub
They have not said why he was asked to leave. He left, but came back, armed with a gun. I guess he didn't expect security to be armed.
Police said the shooting happened after Hayes was kicked out of the establishment for an unknown reason. Hayes later returned with a gun, pointed it at an unidentified security guard and tried to re-enter the establishment, police said.
The security guard then shot Hayes in self-defense, police said. He was released as determined by Phoenix police and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
The investigation continues, but they did not arrest the security guard, are calling it self-defense, and Phoenix has not morphed into Manhattan.
Self-defense is a human-right.
They apparently thought it was a good idea to break into an occupied home; they were wrong. Arizona homeowner fatally shoots 2 intruders: police | Fox News
A Phoenix, Arizona homeowner shot and killed two men who were attempting to break into the home Saturday morning, police said, according to reports.
Cops detained the people in the home, and questioned them. But turned them loose after getting some details of self-defense.
The case will be referred to the DA's office for final determination of charges.
Self-defense is a human-right, and Arizona is not New Jersey.
Things won't go well for you if you do. 49-year-old man shot, killed near 39th and Grovers avenues
Detectives said they detained and interviewed a man on scene who made a claim of self-defense. Sgt. Vincent Cole, a spokesperson with Phoenix police, said Standley was allegedly making threats with a knife.
The man was released based on evidence and witness statements, police said.
The DA will make the final determination, but self-defense is a human-right, and in Arizona it may be your legal right.
