Phoenix Police Fatally Shoot Hatchet-Wielding Man Outside IHOP

A man identified as 47-year-old Rocky Joe Ellis was fatally shot by Phoenix police officers outside an IHOP near 19th and Northern avenues after responding to a trespassing call and reports that he was cutting himself inside the restaurant. Upon arrival, Ellis was found outside holding a large hatchet and advanced toward officers despite commands to drop the weapon and attempts to subdue him with less-lethal rounds. An officer then fired their service rifle, hitting Ellis, who later died at the hospital. This incident marks the sixth officer-involved shooting by Phoenix Police in 2025, a significant decrease from previous years, and occurred despite the department's mandatory de-escalation training implemented in 2023. No officers were injured during the shooting, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety is investigating the case. Witnesses described the police response as aggressive, noting multiple officers with rifles at the scene prior to the shooting.