By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Glendale Police Department released body camera footage July 17 documenting an officer-involved shooting that occurred May 20 at a pawn shop, in which officers shot a knife-wielding suspect who was holding a woman hostage.
- The incident began when a woman entering a pawn shop near 63rd Avenue and Bell Road mouthed “call 911” to store employees while displaying a fresh cut on her hand, prompting staff to contact emergency services.
- Suspect Daren Howard, 33, a man with a documented history of domestic violence and substance abuse, allegedly forced his girlfriend into the shop to purchase a firearm and became increasingly aggressive when she signaled distress.
- When officers arrived and ordered Howard to release the woman, he grabbed her by the neck with a knife; an officer deployed a Taser which proved ineffective, prompting a second officer to discharge a firearm.
- Howard sustained non-life-threatening injuries and survived; the woman was transported to the hospital for unrelated injuries; Howard is being held on a $350,000 cash bond facing multiple charges; the shooting remains under internal and criminal review.
GLENDALE, ARIZ. — Glendale Police Department released body camera footage July 17 documenting a May 20 officer-involved shooting in which officers shot a knife-wielding suspect during a domestic violence hostage situation at a pawn shop near 63rd Avenue and Bell Road.
The incident began shortly before 10 a.m. when a man and woman entered the pawn shop. The woman was attempting to purchase a firearm. While interacting with store staff, the woman displayed a fresh cut on her hand and silently mouthed the words “call 911” to a store manager, indicating she was in distress.
Store employees recognized the signal and contacted emergency services. When the woman’s companion, identified as Daren Howard, became aware of the 911 call, he became agitated and aggressive.
Glendale Police Sergeant Justin Ramsay responded to the scene along with additional officers. Upon arrival, officers interviewed bystanders and learned that the woman appeared to be in distress while the man was acting erratically inside the store.
Officers entered the business and ordered Howard to release the woman. During this encounter, Howard grabbed the woman from behind and pulled a knife, holding the blade to her neck and taking her hostage.
An officer deployed a Taser device in an attempt to incapacitate Howard and free the woman. The Taser proved ineffective. As the threat to the woman’s safety escalated, a second officer discharged a firearm, striking Howard.
Officers immediately moved to secure the woman and remove her from danger. Police recovered the knife from the scene and provided medical treatment to Howard at the scene pending transport to a hospital.
Howard sustained gunshot injuries determined to be non-life-threatening. The woman was transported to a hospital for treatment of unrelated injuries sustained during the incident. All individuals involved in the incident survived.
Court documents describe Howard as a man with a lengthy criminal history dating to childhood, including documented substance abuse beginning at a young age and a documented history of domestic violence. Police stated that Howard had threatened to kill his girlfriend and her children prior to the May 20 incident.
Howard was identified on May 25 and is being held on a $350,000 cash bond. He faces multiple criminal charges related to the incident.
The Glendale Police Department stated that the officer-involved shooting remains under both internal and criminal review. Lieutenant Wade Kamman of the Glendale Police Department noted the department’s commitment to domestic violence education and resource availability for victims.