Police fatally shot man 3 times at Phoenix IHOP: Body camera footage shows
Body camera footage shows officers waited nearly six minutes to render aid to Rocky Joe Ellis during the early-morning Aug. 19 incident near 19th and Northern avenues, where he was suspected of wielding a hatchet. Ellis lay on the pavement for several minutes before officers approached him, following an order to hit him with a “less-lethal” projectile.
A 2024 U.S. Department of Justice report concluded Phoenix police delayed medical assistance to people who appeared incapacitated resulting from officer force and that unreasonable force was used.
Ellis, 47, died later that day at a hospital. The report from the Office of the Maricopa County Medical Examiner found that gunshots entered Ellis through his upper right chest and shoulder from an intermediate range, and through his lower left chest from an undetermined range. He also suffered “an apparent graze gunshot injury” to his upper right neck that was “likely” caused by a gunfire fragment exiting his body, the autopsy report said.
The autopsy also found that Ellis had amphetamine, cannabinoids, and methamphetamine in his system. He had multiple incised injuries on his forearms and wrists consistent with self-inflicted wounds, the report said.
Body cam showed police gave aid to man minutes after shooting
Officers were called to the scene after reports that Ellis was trespassing and cutting himself with a hatchet at the 24-hour restaurant, according to a police report. Body camera footage shows Ellis also had a knife. Police ordered him to drop it, with one officer warning that he would be hurt if he didn’t. Ellis replied that he would not drop the knife and that he knew he would be hurt.
The footage shows Ellis holding a long object in his right hand and a shorter one in his left as he moved toward officers, who repeatedly ordered him to drop both items. An officer told him he was under arrest and that he didn’t want to hurt him but would if necessary. As officers continued issuing commands, Ellis advanced, and an officer fired less-lethal projectiles at him, the video shows.
