Rocketry Planet

MESA, Arizona USA — A Mesa man was fatally shot by police Sunday after authorities say he pointed a gun at officers and himself in his front yard.
 
Monty Merkley, 47, was killed on the sidewalk in front of his home about 10:45 a.m. at 5951 E. Nance St., near Recker and McDowell roads in the Loma Villa neighborhood. Police said they were at the home checking on Merkley after his brother in Virginia called authorities to report Merkley was suicidal. 

“He indicated he was distraught after some poor decisions he made,” said Mesa detective Jerry Gissel. “He said he no longer wanted to live and that he wanted to have his body cremated.”

Police said that when they arrived at the house, the man walked out his front door and pointed a handgun at officers. About two or three officers on scene yelled at Merkley to drop his weapon as they took cover, but he alternated between pointing the gun at himself and pointing it at police, said Mesa Sgt. Chuck Trapani.

After about three minutes, police felt threatened and opened fire, Trapani said. He wouldn’t say how many officers fired at the man or how many times he was shot.

Neighbor Jesse Greenwood, 25, said he heard about six or seven consecutive shots fired in a matter of seconds.

No officers were injured. Anyone involved in the shooting will be placed on the standard three days paid administrative leave.

Police said they couldn’t find any previous calls for service at Merkley’s residence in the past three months. They didn’t check beyond that.

Friends described Merkley as a “happy-go-lucky” man who was a longtime member of the Superstition Spacemodeling Society Rocketry Club, where he worked with other rocketry enthusiasts and children launching model rockets.

According to club member and close friend Jim Hussey, Merkley was a “big man” with a “big heart” who would volunteer his time for anyone.

The officer-involved shooting is Mesa’s third this year. Investigations into the other shootings are pending.