Police: Stolen rental truck call leads to shooting involving officers in Peoria

PEORIA, Ariz. — New details have revealed what led up to a shooting involving officers in Peoria on Wednesday morning.

According to Peoria police, at approximately 3 a.m., officers received a FLOCK hit for a stolen vehicle near 75th and Peoria avenues. Then the police got another FLOCK hit near 91st and Peoria avenues, specifically at a local mobile home park.

The vehicle, a U-Haul rental truck, was stolen from an unknown location, police said.

Officers located the vehicle and completed a traffic stop. The driver was identified as a female, and the passenger was identified as 41-year-old Anthony Sesmas. Sesmas fled the vehicle and ran, according to officials.

A shooting involving two officers occurred in the area of 89th and Peoria avenues after police say they made contact with the Sesmas, and he had a gun.

An officer fired at least one round at Sesmas, striking him. Officers provided life-saving efforts to him before he was taken to the hospital in stable condition. The suspect is out of the ICU.

Police said no officers were injured, and there was no reported property damage to the surrounding community.

A gun was found at the scene, but officials are investigating whether the suspect pointed it at the officers.

Police said once Sesmas is out of the hospital, he will be booked on several felony warrants and new felony charges. The female driver was taken into custody.

The West Valley OIS Response Team has taken over the investigation, with the Buckeye Police Department leading the OIS part of the investigation for the West Valley Task Force, officials said.

Peoria Avenue between 89th and 91st avenues will remain closed for the remaining portion of the investigation.

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