Police identify man who allegedly threatened to kill Circle K manager, led to officer-involved shooting in Mesa

GILBERT, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- The Mesa Police Department has identified the man who allegedly threatened to kill a manager at a Circle K gas station. Police say Omar Fernando Lugo-Osuna. 27, faces aggravated assault in addition to threatening and intimidating charges from the shooting involving officers on Monday night.

The shooting happened near the U.S. 60 and Gilbert Road around 9:30 p.m. after officers got a report of the man threatening to kill an employee at the convenience store. The manager reportedly said that Lugo-Osuna was threatening to kill him and “punching the air.” Officers found the man based on witnesses’ descriptions and attempted to speak to him. Early Tuesday morning, police said they tried to stop Lugo-Osuna, but he refused to stop. An officer tried again when police say he swung a knife at an officer while jumping off a bicycle.

Encinas says the officer fell to the ground and fired his gun several times. Multiple officers helped take Lugo-Osuna into custody when he was taken to the hospital and later released with non-life-threatening injuries. During an interview with detectives, Lugo-Osuna admitted to threatening the Circle K manager and to having the knife on him while talking with the officer. An investigation is still underway.

Police shoot man armed with a rock at a Phoenix Chili’s

Just a few hours earlier, there was another officer-involved shooting, this time in Phoenix. Police said a man wouldn’t drop a rock in his hand and was about to go into a Chili’s when an officer shot him. According to Arizona’s Family’s records, this is the 23rd officer-involved shooting in the Valley in 2022 and the 35th overall in the state.