It’s believed to be the city’s first-ever officer-related shooting.
According to Chief Charles Husted of the Sedona Police Department, at 1:26 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, officers received a call from a resident on Newcastle Lane that there was an unknown male on the property with a machete and a stick. The caller indicated that the male was yelling and screaming.
“At one point the caller looked out and said it appeared the male was slicing himself with the machete,” Husted said. “Our officers arrived on the scene at 1:29 p.m. They engaged the subject andshots were firedat 1:32 p.m. The fire department was called for assistance and after their arrival declared the subject deceased at 1:40 p.m.”
As of press time on Tuesday afternoon, the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office had yet to release the name of the dead 41-year-old male as his family was yet to be contacted. The city of Sedona released his name late Tuesday, Jan. 21, as Jonathan David Messare.
By 4 p.m. investigators from the Arizona Department of Public Safety were on the scene and will be handling the investigation with assistance from SPD.
“Two of our three officers fired [their weapons] and thankfully they were not injured,” Husted said at the scene.
During the investigation, Husted said the officers will be on paid leave. This will give them time to deal with their mental health, to decompress and an opportunity to talk with counselors while the investigation takes place.
“Our officers are trained to de-escalate and negotiate with individuals,” he said, confirming that it’s the first SPD shooting of its kind. “Officers never want to have to use force, especially lethal force. This was the last resort for our officers. This is a very big deal for our city, the department, the family involved and the victim’s family. This is something you hope never happens. It’s traumatic for everyone involved.”
A resident who lives on the street where the incident took place, who asked that his name not be used, witnessed most of the incident. He said a short time prior to the shooting the subject was making noise outside, almost like singing or chanting. The resident looked out the window and said he saw the individual with a machete. He was banging on a truck but remained in the same area.
“Then I saw that he left the property and started walking down there with his dog,” he said, pointing toward the scene. “There were people over there and I assumed they were calling the cops. A few minutes later the cops did show up. Before the officers arrived he was sitting on a ledge. I came out when the police showed up. I heard them say, ‘Drop it.’ They said it over and over again. It was kind of hard to see so I don’t know if he lunged or whatever, and then I heard multiple shots. I saw him still moving and again they said, ‘Drop it or I’ll shoot you again.’ Then I saw them kick the machete away.”
