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Maricopa County sheriff's deputy shoots, injures armed man in Tonopah

Ryan Santistevan
The Republic | azcentral.com
Shooting

A Maricopa County sheriff's deputy shot and injured an armed man Wednesday morning in Tonopah while responding to a report of a possible homicide, officials said. 

Two deputies were called out to a residence around 5 a.m. near 339th Avenue and Buckeye Road in Tonopah after the man called 911 stating a murder may have taken place at the address, according to Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez.

According to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, it is believed that 36-year-old Michael J. Bilinski called police while he was drunk and told the dispatcher so before hanging up. 

Deputies Ruben Roque and Brandon Rau arrived at the home and were approached by Bilinski, who was armed with a rifle. He then pointed the .22-caliber Crossman Nitro Venom Air Rifle at one of the deputies and didn't stop when Roque jumped for cover.  

It was then that Rau shot a single round, striking Bilinski in the abdomen when he refused to drop his weapon. 

Bilinski ran and barricaded himself inside the house. SWAT was called in to convince the man to come out of the residence, and he did. 

Bilinski is currently hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Sheriff's Officials said Thursday they are seeking two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against him.

The investigation is ongoing and may result in additional charges. 

No deputies were hurt during the incident.

Initially, reports to the Sheriff's Office pinpointed the 911 caller as a woman but later information revealed it was the man who called in, Enriquez said. 

The Sheriff's Office is still investigating why they were called out to the residence, as no evidence of a homicide was immediately found. The Professional Standards Bureau is investigating, as well, as is protocol anytime a weapon is fired, Enriquez said.

It was the 32nd police-involved shooting in Maricopa County this year.

Check back with azcentral.com for more details.

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