HonorHealth Scottsdale Security Officers Disarm Rifle-Wielding Man
After hospital security was able to disarm the man, he lunged at responding officers with a knife and was shot and killed.
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Police shot and killed a man who lunged at them with a knife outside a Scottsdale, Ariz., hospital just moments after security officers wrestled away his rifle.
The man, identified as 27-year-old Joshua Greenleaf, was killed by responding officers outside HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center’s emergency department on Tuesday night in what police are calling a domestic dispute incident, reports Fox 10.
According to Scottsdale Police Department spokesman Sgt. Ben Hoster, Greenleaf was standing outside the entrance of the ED and “threatening with a rifle.” He was at the hospital to find his ex-girlfriend and was making suicidal comments, Hoster added.
An unarmed hospital security officer was able to take the rifle away from him. Shortly after, two officers and a sergeant arrived at the scene. One of the officers shot Greenleaf after he “produced a knife and advanced on the officers.”
“One of the officers, feeling threatened for his life and the lives of his partners, fired his weapon and the suspect was stopped and fell to the ground,” Hoster said.
Greenleaf was taken into the hospital for medical treatment but died from his injuries, according to AZ Family. No officers or security personnel were injured.
“That person who disarmed him saved a lot of lives and is a hero,” said Hoster. Hospital officials said the security officer who disarmed the man does not want his identity released.
The hospital released a statement, saying in part, “To help our staff feel prepared to respond to situations like this one, our Emergency Management team provides staff training through mock drills and required annual training. Our security guards are also highly skilled to maintain security at our locations and to help deescalate situations that may occur.”
The immediate area around the hospital was closed during the investigation and emergency department patients were re-routed to different hospitals.
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About the Author
Amy Rock, Executive Editor
Amy is Campus Safety’s Executive Editor. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing.
Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe.
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