FLAGSTAFF — On Saturday, May 21 at approximately 12:07 am, an armed subject who had been in a standoff with law enforcement officers was shot and killed at a residence off of Lumberjack Boulevard in the Mountain View Ranchos/Doney Park area east of Flagstaff. The subject has been identified as 31-year-old Mark Nelson. The shooting is currently under investigation by a Northern Arizona multi-agency officer involved shooting team.

The emergency call came in on Friday, May 20 at 9:51 pm when 911 Dispatch received a call from Crisis Hotline about an armed suicidal man. The caller into the Hot Line was the subject’s mother. She reported that her son was behind the house near the garage area.

As deputies were dispatched to the scene, reports came in that shots had been fired from the area where the subject was believed to be. As the incident developed, four Coconino County Sheriff Deputies were assisted by four Flagstaff Police Officers, and two Arizona Department of Public Safety Troopers in establishing a perimeter to ensure safety of the neighborhood. Guardian Medical and Summit Fire also had been staged nearby.

Upon arrival, the officers made visual and verbal contact with Mr. Nelson and tried to convince him to surrender his weapon as well as offer him help. Around 11:28 pm, the subject drove his truck from the backyard/garage area to the front of the house. He exited his truck with a high powered rifle.

After several more minutes of trying to dialogue with Mr. Nelson offering to get him assistance and telling him to put down his weapon, Mr. Nelson put the gun into his mouth. He then took it out of his mouth and leveled it at officers. At that time shots were fired by deputies at Mr. Nelson. Medical personnel rendered first aid. Mark Nelson was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.

This officer involved shooting is currently under investigation. Additional information will be made available as the investigation moves forward.