Verl Bedonie, 26

Flagstaff, Arizona
May 23, 2016

Agencies: National Arizona University Police Department | Flagstaff Police Department

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

A man who brandished and fired a handgun while walking near the Northern Arizona University campus was killed by police Monday in a shootout after he tried to carjack a vehicle in a busy intersection, authorities said.

The shooting of Verl Bedonie, 26, of Tuba City, happened during the morning commute in a residential area a few blocks from downtown Flagstaff. No one other than Bedonie was hurt, said police Sgt. Margaret Bentzen.

She said Bedonie repeatedly ignored commands to drop his weapon. At one point, he held a motorist at gunpoint, demanding that he be driven to Phoenix, Bentzen said.

An undercover officer in an unmarked vehicle put a stop to the plan by ramming the car. Once out of the vehicle, Bedonie raised the gun toward officers and fired a single shot, Bentzen said. Flagstaff police Sgt. Collin Seay and NAU police Officer Dillon Jenkins returned fire, killing Bedonie.

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