Domestic Violence Suspect Arrested following Officer Involved Shooting
October 21, 2024: Shortly before 4:40 pm, Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) officers responded to the report of a domestic violence incident in the 7500 block of Tiara Way. The victim reported that her boyfriend had physically assaulted her and threatened her with a knife. Officers arrived and located the victim, who suffered from a laceration to her head. The suspect, identified as 41-year-old Justin Phillips, had fled on foot prior to officer arrival. Police searched the area, but he was not located.
Around 7:45pm, witnesses reported Phillips was recently seen in the 7500 block of Sunrise Blvd. Officers located Phillips, who immediately fled on foot inside a senior living facility and eventually onto the facility’s roof. Officers surrounded the area and opened dialogue with Phillips to convince him to peacefully surrender. Phillips acted erratic and appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance.
While Phillips was on the rooftop, officers on the ground observed him holding a black firearm (later determined through investigation to be a replica firearm). This observation was confirmed by live camera feed from an overhead unmanned aerial unit (drone) and police air units.
Phillips threatened to detonate an explosive device and pointed the firearm at multiple officers on the scene. Three CHPD officers fired at Phillips, wounding him and causing him to drop the firearm. Phillips remained uncooperative and threatening for the duration of the approximately two-hour standoff.
Just before 10:15 p.m., CHPD’s Crisis Negotiation Team and SWAT team convinced Phillips to come down from the roof. Once on the ground, he still refused to comply with officers’ instructions. Ultimately, officers used several less-lethal munitions and a police canine to overcome Phillips’ resistance and take him into custody. Phillips was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including a dog bite.
Justin Phillips is on CDC Parole for burglary, and Sacramento County Probation for possession of controlled substances and burglary tools. He was booked into the Sacramento County main jail for armed robbery (PC 211), domestic battery (PC 273.5), assault with a deadly weapon (PC 245). Additional charges may be added resulting from the ongoing investigation.
The Citrus Heights Investigation team, along with investigators from the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, the Sacramento County Crime Lab, are investigating this officer-involved shooting. Numerous pieces of evidence have been collected and are currently being processed including a replica firearm, ammunition, narcotics and a knife.
Per CHPD policy, the three officers have been placed on paid administrative leave and their identities will not be released at this time while the incident is under investigation. No officers were injured as a result of this incident.
The Citrus Heights Police Department would like to thank our allied agency partners for their support and assistance during this incident.
Anyone with information about this crime, or any Citrus Heights crime, is encouraged to contact the Citrus Heights Police Department Crime Tip Line at 916-727-5524. If you would like to remain anonymous and share information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of a crime you can be considered for an award by contacting the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers tip hotline at (916) 443-HELP.