Hello, I'm Detective Katz with the Mesa Police Department's Media Relations Unit. This critical incident community briefing is intended to provide viewers with accurate information about a shooting that involved a Mesa police officer. We will share case information to help people better understand details based on the facts as we know them today. Please remember that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The images and language in this video may be disturbing to some and viewer discretion is advised. On August 3rd, 2026, around 7:09 p.m., Mesa police officers responded to a residential neighborhood in the area of South Emory Circle and East Raleigh Avenue in Mesa after receiving multiple calls reporting a disturbance. Callers said a male subject, identified as 59-year-old Perry Forster, was attacking his ex-wife and children. Callers indicated that Perry was armed with either a shovel or an axe and possibly had a firearm. The following audio clips are from the initial 911 calls. >> 911, what is your emergency? >> Yeah, my neighbor's going crazy with a shovel. >> Okay, what's the address there? >> He's hitting her with a shovel. >> He's barefoot and it's an axe. >> Okay. >> He He was swing He's swinging it at the wife. I have like all the footage. Yes, and he's coming back and oh, no. >> Okay. >> We need someone to get here fast cuz now he's I told her. >> You see him right now? Yes, he still has the axe in his hand. >> Yes, he's right by the mailbox. Yes, he's bashing every car he passes. Every car's windows is bashed. >> While armed with an axe, Forster chased family members and damaged several vehicles. >> Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. OH MY GOD. GET OVER HERE, KATE. KATE. GET OVER HERE. KATE. KATE. >> [crying] >> NO. NO. >> HE BROKE MY WATER BOTTLE. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? COME ON, [ __ ] HEY. JUST JUST SHOULD I TAKE THIS ONE? YOU DON'T HIT MY CAR. YEAH. JOSH, GET IN THE CAR. GOOD NIGHT, [ __ ] JOSH, he's hitting our car WITH THE YEAH. YOU. JOSH, GET IN THE LET'S GO DOWN THE STREET. Let's keep going. Get the [ __ ] out. >> While neighbors were trying to stop Forster, the first officer arrived on the scene and located him in front of a residence swinging the axe and hitting a vehicle with it. The officer gave clear verbal commands to Forster, but instead of dropping the weapon, Forster raised the axe and faced the officer. That's when the officer fired his service weapon. Additional officers quickly arrived and administered care until emergency medical services arrived. But Forster was pronounced dead on the scene. No officers or bystanders were injured as a result of the incident. This is a picture of the axe that the suspect had in his possession. This officer involved shooting is being investigated by the Gilbert Police Department as part of the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team Protocol. EACRT includes the Apache Junction, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, and Tempe Police Departments. EACRT provides greater transparency and accountability because agencies involved in the critical force incident will not be directly involved in the officer-involved shooting investigation. Thank you for taking the time to watch this critical incident community briefing.