March 1, 2021

PHOENIX, AZ – Phoenix police released more details about the woman shot by an officer on Aug. 19 in front of her apartment after officers said she raised a gun in their direction. Phoenix PoliceDepartment released informatino to explain its version of the events leading up to the shooting of 22-year-old Hannah Kyyitan. Kyyitan’s roommate placed a call to Terros Health around 4:45 p.m. after the roommate said she threatened him with a knife. The unnamed roommate told the operator that she also had a gun but no bullets, and the operator transferred the call to 911, according to the parts of the 911 call Phoenix police released. Body camera footage released on Wednesday shows an officer speaking to Kyyitan over the phone asking her to come outside the apartment located near 48th Street and Ray Road.

Officers then went up to Kyyitan’s door and tried to get her to leave the apartment for more than 30 minutes. A sound that appears to be a gunshot can be heard from inside the apartment. Officers began evacuating neighboring apartments, according to Phoenix Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Ann Justus. Eventually, Kyyitan came to the door holding a shotgun, police said. “What’s in your hand? Drop what’s in your hand. She’s got a shotgun! Drop the gun or we will shoot you,” one officer can be heard yelling in the video. About 40 seconds later, an officer shoots from a vantage point through a staircase, and the shotgun can be seen flying feet in front of her. Immediately after she is struck, Kyyitan leaves the apartment with her hands up and officers can be seen applying a tourniquet to Kyyitan’s arm as she kneels quietlyin a pool of her blood. The officer who shot Kyyitan is 24 years old with two years of service, according to police. Her injuries were not life-threatening and no one else was injured.