By Chris Caraveo
Todd Munson (AZ Dept. of Corrections)
Independent Newsmedia
Officers shot and killed a man Wednesday afternoon after leading police on a chase throughout the Valley, including in Glendale, according to police.
The Phoenix Police Department identified the suspect as 25-year-old Todd Munson.
On March 15, the Glendale Police Department officers responded to an armed robbery in the area of 6300 West Bell Road around 12 p.m.
Glendale police learned a man had attempted to take the vehicle of a woman at gunpoint, but she drove off without harm. The suspect then pointed his gun at a man before stealing his white pickup truck.
Phoenix police advised Glendale police that the suspect was possibly connected to an incident they were investigating.
At about 4:30 a.m., Phoenix police responded to a residence in Ahwatukee, Sgt. Alan Pfohl stated in an email. When officers arrived they located a man, Nathan Cahal, 40, who died from a gunshot wound.
According to a release, homicide detectives developed information leading to Munson as the suspect. Officers learned he may have headed to the area of 6400 West Kings Avenue in Glendale. While police were in the area they observed Munson walking on the sidewalk and attempted to contact him. He immediately turned and fled on foot.
According to police, Munson jumped over a wall into an apartment complex. Officers heard a gunshot and later determined Munson may have accidentally shot himself in the leg.
Munson turned out to be the suspect who stole the man’s pickup truck in Glendale.
Shortly after, Phoenix police received a call of a stolen yellow Corvette at gunpoint near 7th Avenue and Union Hill Drive, according to Sgt. Pfohl. Again, the description matched Munson’s, who abandoned the truck and let it roll into a business.
Munson stopped at a convenience store parking lot near Tatum Boulevard and Union Hills Drive, where he pointed a weapon at two people and told them to give him their cell phones. Both victims ducked behind the fuel pumps, and Munson left without taking any property.
A Phoenix Police helicopter located the stolen Corvette and directed unmarked police units to the vehicle. Before officers could arrive, Munson stopped in front of a home in the 4600 block of West Country Gables Drive. He pointed his gun at a woman and demanded her cell phone. She gave it up before he fled.
While at a red signal light at North Valley Parkway and Norterra Parkway, Munson pointed his weapon at a man stopped in the next lane. Munson told him to give up his cell phone, but Munson fled northbound before the victim could react.
Phoenix Police Department’s Special Assignments Unit (SAU) officers arrived and used one of their unmarked vehicles to stop the suspect at Dove Valley Road and North Valley Parkway.
After stopping, Munson pointed his weapon at a Phoenix officer. Both the officer and another officer from the SAU fired their rifles at Munson, who died at the scene.
The officer sustained minor injuries in the collision, but no other officers were injured. Police located a semi-automatic handgun inside the vehicle.
Police continue to investigate the incidents.
The information provided in this article came from the Phoenix and Glendale police departments.
