July 13, 2021- 9:37 p.m.
This incident started at approximately 10:15 p.m. when officers were dispatched to an activation of a burglar alarm at a residence. The first two officers arrived and walked up to the residence at about 10:15 p.m. Both officers could hear the burglar alarm as they approached the front door.
When an officer approached the door, he could see through the security door that the front door was open. He then checked the knob of the security door and the security door was unlocked. The officer then opened both doors and announced his presence. Once the doors were opened both officers continued to use their flashlights and knock and announce their presence.
After approximately 20 minutes of trying to contact someone in the home, officers saw a man walk into the front room from a back hallway. The man was armed with a gun and pointed the gun at officers as he walked toward the front door.
Officers yelled out to each other about the gun and all three officers attempted to find cover. The man walked to the front door and shot at the officers.
Two of the three officers shot back at the man striking him. The man walked back into his residence and officers told him to come out unarmed.
Once he came out of the home, officers walked up to the man and provided first aid. A tourniquet was placed on the man’s leg and an officer drove him to Phoenix Fire personnel in a police Tahoe.
Officers later learned that the man was the homeowner. He was identified as 77-year-old Ernest Kaufmann. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was treated over a number of days for non-life-threatening injuries.
He has been released and could face aggravated assault charges pending review by the Maricopa County Attorney’s office.
