Man Shot by Phoenix Police Department Files Claim

A Phoenix homeowner shot six times by Phoenix police officers has filed a claim against the city.

Tony Arambula is seeking $5.75 million in damages for himself and his family after he was shot on Sept. 17 after officers responded to a call about an intruder inside Arambula’s central Phoenix home.

The claim, filed by Phoenix attorney Michael Manning on behalf of Arambula, names the city, its police department, the officer who shot Arambula and two other officers.

Phoenix police declined to comment on the shooting or the pending claim.

The night of the shooting, Arambula said an intruder had broken into his home. Arambula called 911 and told police he was holding the intruder at gunpoint.

As officers arrived, Arambula’s wife Lesley said she told them her husband was inside the house holding a gun on the intruder.

“I told them my husband was inside, he was the one with the gun,” she said.

The officers entered the house with a shout of “Police!” Almost immediately afterward, Phoenix police Officer Brian Lilly shot Arambula in the back.

Three more shots were fired at Arambula, one hitting him in the arm.

The claim said that when Arambula fell to the floor, Lilly shot him two more times. That’s when Arambula told Lilly he’d shot the wrong man.

In his Internal Affairs interview, Lilly admitted firing at Arambula without any verbal warning, according to the claim.

Arambula said he did everything he was supposed to do in that situation. “I would have loved if they would have told me to get on the floor and drop to my knees,” Arambula said. “To not have given me any opportunity to not get shot, it’s confusing. I pray that this never happens to another family.”

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Information from: The Arizona Republic