Gilbert Police Department Critical Incident Briefing Re: Brett Shanahan Shooting – January 2024
Gilbert, Arizona
This public release is intended to provide details as we currently understand them of an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Gilbert on Sunday, January 21, 2024. This video may contain strong language as well as graphic images which could be disturbing to some people. Viewer discretion is advised.
Gilbert Police Department Press Release Re: Brett Shanahan Shooting
Post Date:04/12/2024 2:30 PM
Gilbert, AZ – This public release is intended to provide details as we currently understand them of an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Gilbert on Sunday, January 21, 2024. Warning: This video may contain strong language as well as graphic images which could be disturbing to some people. Viewer discretion is advised.
On Sunday, January 21, the Gilbert Police Department’s dispatch center received two related emergency calls. The first call came in at 1:59 PM, when the caller reported he had just concluded a concerning phone call with a male coworker.
The caller reported to dispatchers that his coworker, identified as 40-year-old Brett Shanahan, had recently learned he was going to be going through a divorce and told him he was on his way to the home of his wife’s divorce attorney in Gilbert. The caller stated Shanahan was armed and wearing a ballistic vest. Before the call concluded, the caller expressed concerns for both public and officer safety due to concerning statements about “taking care of business”.
At 2:07 PM, a second 9-1-1 call came in where the caller reported that a family friend had just shown up to their home near the 800 block of West Sun Coast Drive in Gilbert. The caller individual identified the individual as Brett Shanahan and stated Shanahan was looking for her husband, an attorney representing Shanahan’s wife in divorce proceedings. The caller stated to the dispatcher that Shanahan was armed, wearing an armored vest, and had made concerning statements before driving away.
Responding Gilbert Police Officers arrived at the second reporting party’s residence a short time later to further obtain information from the caller.Two additional Gilbert Police Officers were dispatched to Shanahan’s residence in the 1200 block of East Parkcrest Court for a welfare check on Shanahan. Shanahan’s residence is in a cul-de-sac with one point of entry and exit.
At 2:26 PM, while in the area of 1200 East Parkcrest speaking with neighbors, the two on-scene officers saw Shanahan’s vehicle enter the neighborhood. The officers entered their vehicles with the intent to conduct a high-risk traffic stop on Shanahan.
The two officers drove down the residential street a short distance when they observed Shanahan’s vehicle stop and partially block the roadway. They also observed Shanahan has now exited the roadway and is armed with a handgun, rifle, and wearing a ballistic vest consistent with the previous reports by the two 9-1-1 callers. Officers exited their vehicles, and at 2:27 PM, they began providing verbal commands for Shanahan to put the gun down as Shanahan began to walk in the direction of the officers shouting at them to “take the shot.”
In addition to being captured on body-worn camera, the incident was also captured via a third-party witness cellphone video.
At 2:27 PM as officers are actively providing repeated commands for Shanahan to drop his weapon, Shanahan continued to walk toward the officers—closing the distance between them—with a firearm in hand, presenting an immediate and deadly threat to the officers and community.
Responding to this immediate and deadly threat, the two officers fired their duty weapons at Shanahan.
As officers engaged Shanahan with their firearms, Shanahan is seen on the witness’ video placing his gun to his head before the witness pans the camera away briefly and returns to Shanahan lying motionless in the street.
Due to Shanahan’s rifle being pointed in the direction of the two officers, an immediate action team of Gilbert officers was assembled to enable officers to safely approach Shanahan. The immediate action team confirmed Shanahan was unresponsive through the use of two less-lethal rounds and officers then approached Shanahan who was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner has ruled Brett Shanahan’s manner of death as a suicide caused by a gunshot wound to the head. This is also consistent with the investigation conducted by the Gilbert Police Department, which concluded that Brett Shanahan suffered from several injuries to include a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.
This incident is the subject of both an internal and a criminal investigation, which will be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Conclusions about whether the actions of the officers are consistent with department policy and the law will not be made until all facts are known and the investigation is complete. Thank you for taking the time to watch this critical incident briefing.
If you or someone you know are in crisis, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the 988 Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. 988lifeline.org – Veteranscrisisline.net.
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