Ryan Whitaker Wiki – Ryan Whitaker Biography

Ryan Whitaker of Arizona was shot dead by Phoenix police after a neighbor complained of noise. Bodycam footage showed him looking like he was kneeling to lower his gun just before he was shot multiple times. Now his family is looking for answers.

Ryan Whitaker Age

He was 40 years old.

Ryan Whitaker Shot & Killed

Ryan Whitaker, 40, in Ahwatukee, Arizona, was shot and killed on May 21, AZ Central reported. Earlier that week, he was holding his 9mm pistol in his right hand when he knocked on his door late at night, as he had heard a similar knock late at night.

After Whitaker opened the door, officer Jeff Cooke shot him from behind at least twice, AZ Central reported. Officer John Ferragamo was with him but did not shoot. The officers were standing on either side of the door, AZ Central reported, and although they announced themselves when they knocked, they could not be seen through a peephole.

Body Cam Video

AZ Central has released a longer video of their bodycam shots, which you can watch below. According to AZ Central, the incident involves a conversation with Whitaker’s girlfriend, Brandee Nees.

According to AZ Family, Whitaker’s brother Steven said that his brother could not hear the officers revealing who they were because of the loud music.

The video does not show officers helping out after Whitaker was shot. An officer with a gun on Whitaker was lying on the ground, while the other officer spoke to Whitaker’s friend that he would not be able to go to Whitaker and see if he was okay.

Incident Detail

According to AZ Central, when Whitaker opened the door, he held his gun in his hand and a bright light flashed in his eyes immediately.

An officer said “hands!” Yell. and video body cam videos show Whitaker crouching on his knees and falling to the ground just before he was shot.

Family attorney Matthew Cunningham told AZ Central that it could be seen that Whitaker began laying down his gun just before he was shot. When Nees asked why he was shot, Cooke said, “He pulled a gun at us, ma’am.”

AZ Central reported that Whitaker’s gun never fired. The Phoenix Police Department said that Cooke fired his gun because he believed his life was in danger, ABC 15 reported. The video shows Whitaker quickly adapts to commands. The Phoenix Police’s official press release on May 22 said that Whitaker was “moving towards an armed police officer”.

Officer Statement

A body camera video revealed police responded to a noise complaint from an upstairs neighbor, AZ Central reported. The caller said people were screaming, and then it turned into a fight on a second call. Police said they responded to an urgent domestic violence call after he was shot.

Cunningham told AZ Central that the police knew the search was exaggerated because the caller told 911: “It may be physical. If anyone is in a hurry, I can say yes. Get someone here faster. ”

According to AZ Central, Ferragamo made a statement about the “useful” information the caller had given before knocking on the door and admitted that the caller said “yes” to everything so that the police could reach it faster. When they arrived there was no sound of fighting on the other side of the door.

In the unedited bodycam video, Nees said they did salsa with Whitaker and played Crash Bandicoot on the Playstation and shouted over the game.

Officer Arrested

Fox 10, Whitaker’s family said at a press conference that the officers wanted the officers fired and Cooke accused of murder. The family said they wanted the dispatcher to be fired, along with the charges brought against the caller of 911.

As of the date of publication of a petition on Change.org, it has more than 9,400 signatures, and Cooke and Ferragamo want their booth arrested and charged with murder.

During a press conference, AZ Family reported that Whitaker’s brother Steven had said: “My brother had no idea that the police were on the other side of that door – none. He was 100% in favor of law enforcement. ”

In a public Facebook post, Bran Nees shared what happened that night and how much he would miss Whitaker. In part he wrote:

• He always had open arms and willing to help, not only me but anyone. There was a couple that lived a few doors down from us that Ryan heard arguing and screaming as he was walking past their door one night prior to me living there and Ryan told me that he went down and knocked on their door to make sure everything was ok and told the girl that if she EVER needed him he lived right down the hall and made sure to tell her no matter what time of night it was to please know he was there to help. I wish that girl who lives there or used to live there would speak up. Ryan was not the guy the police and media are making him out to be. The one who had the audacity to call the cops more than once claiming he heard screaming and what sounded like a man beating the s*** out of the woman should not have drawn things out to what he/she made them sound like. Absolutely ridiculous. Or the police need to speak up about what actually happened at our front door and show a body cam to prove what actually happened. After speaking with the detective a lady came in and took photos of me. I was in shorts and a crop top and not one single mark was on me. For that to even be a question just blows my mind and I will never understand.
• I’m going to miss his random text messages “Hey guess what?” ….”I love you” I’m going to miss our spontaneous fishing day trips to the lake. We once went to Lake Pleasant and saw two donkeys posing perfectly up on a hill. I didn’t believe they were real! While we were fishing we heard donkeys and he persuaded me that they make donkey sounds go off every ten minutes as a tourist attraction. From that point on we called it the Donkey Lake! He shared that story with everyone we came in crossing with.

Ryan Whitaker Family

During a press conference, Whitaker’s brother Steven Whitaker said of the body camera footage: “Look at my brother’s face… he immediately takes defensive position – very obedient – and wants to give up and lay down his weapon… He’s not a threat. It’s not a threat at all… If it poses a threat to you as a police officer, you should hand over your gun and your badge and walk away [because] you are not eligible to be a police in this state – at all. ”

Whitaker’s sister, Katie Baeza, said at the press conference: “Jeff Cooke was my brother’s judge, jury, and executioner.”