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Ariz. cop involved in seventh shooting

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- A police officer in Scottsdale, Ariz., who shot and killed a man holding a baby has been involved in several other fatal shootings, police said Wednesday.

KPHO-TV, Phoenix, reported 12-year Scottsdale Police Department veteran James Peters has been part of seven officer-involved shootings in the past six years. Peters fired the fatal shot in five of the six cases that ended in death, the TV station said.

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Tuesday night, Peters was among three officers who responded to the home of James Loxas, who neighbors had reported was pointing a gun at them, and tossing trash, while holding his 2-year-old grandson.

The TV station said one officer said he spotted what was believed to be a weapon, and Peters shot and killed Loxas while the 50-year-old man was holding the toddler, who was not injured.

No weapon had been found, KPHO-TV said.

"In this particular case we had someone the officers were confronting that had already pointed his pistol at at least two neighbors while he had a child in his arms, so there's a lot of factors that go into the decision to shoot -- certainly the presence of a weapon is one of them or the perceived presence of a weapon," city police Sgt. Mark Clark said Wednesday morning.

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KSAZ-TV, Phoenix, reported police Chief Alan Rodbell said Peters' previous shootings were investigated by the county attorney's office and were ruled justifiable shootings.

The chief said the investigation of the latest shooting would likely take weeks and the findings would be given to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.

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