Scottsdale, Arizona



From the East Valley Tribune of May 18, 2004:

Man killed in Scottsdale shootout



A 27-year-old man was shot to death early Sunday in a downtown Scottsdale parking lot after he drew a gun on a group of people. Selfdefense may be a factor in the shooting, said Scottsdale police Sgt. Doug Dirren. Jose Mendoza of Phoenix was killed about 1 a.m. in the 3900 block of North Brown Avenue.



He and a friend approached four men and a woman, and Mendoza said something and gestured to the woman, Dirren said.



Mendoza then went to his car parked nearby, retrieved a 9mm handgun, and pointed the weapon at one of the men in the group — Marcus Clark, 22, of Phoenix.



A man in the group identified as Gabriel Ramos, 23, of Phoenix, fired a 9mm pistol at Mendoza as Mendoza pointed his handgun at Clark.



Clark then fired a .32-caliber pistol at Mendoza.



"They were responding to Jose pointing the gun at them," Dirren said.



Mendoza was shot several times. It is not clear whether Mendoza fired any shots. "Once the shooting occurred, everyone fled the scene," Dirren said. Police rounded everyone up and questioned them, but no arrests were made. The shooters were released pending further investigation. Dirren did not know what prompted the confrontation or what Mendoza said to the woman.