Axeel Melendez, 24, is seeking $176 million from the Pima County Sheriff’s Office after alleging deputies shot him during a response to a false emergency call at his Arizona home. Melendez and his mother, Carmen Melendez, filed a notice of claim against the agency and Sheriff Chris Nanos, indicating an intent to sue. His attorney says Melendez warned 911 about a possible swatting attack before deputies arrived. The alleged shooting left him with a spinal cord injury and other serious injuries, according to the claim.
| 1) | The notice of claim and damages demand |
| 2) | The alleged swatting warning |
| 3) | The fake emergency call |
| 4) | The shooting and reported injuries |
| 5) | The sheriff’s office and legal response |
The notice of claim and damages demand
The Melendez family recently filed the notice of claim against the Pima County Sheriff’s Office and Chris Nanos. The filing is a required step before pursuing certain claims against public agencies in Arizona and signals that the family may bring a lawsuit. The demand seeks $176 million for the consequences of the alleged shooting, including the effect on Axeel Melendez‘s health, independence, security and ability to work.
Attorney Dev Sethi, who represents the family, said the legal claim is intended to address both the physical harm and the disruption to Melendez’s life. The allegations have not been established in court, and the notice is not a final finding of liability.
The alleged swatting warning
According to the family’s account, Melendez had already been threatened by a hacker who obtained personal information through an online video game. The hacker allegedly demanded a ransom for the return of Melendez’s accounts and passwords and threatened to report him to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement because of his Hispanic name.
After receiving the threat, Melendez called 911 to report that his home might be targeted in a swatting incident. Swatting involves placing a false emergency call about a specific address to provoke an armed police response. Sethi alleges that a 911 operator reassured Melendez that safeguards would prevent someone from simply sending a tactical team to his home.
“He tells a 911 operator all of this and she essentially downplays it and says, ‘Don’t worry, that’s not how it works. They can’t just call 911 and have the SWAT team show up at your house,’” Sethi said.
The fake emergency call
The claim says that on April 10, someone impersonating Melendez called 311, a non-emergency number, and reported that his father had shot his sister. The caller provided the address where Melendez lived. Sethi said the call contained warning signs, including an out-of-state area code and an incorrect pronunciation of Melendez’s first name.
Sethi also argued that the use of 311 rather than 911 was inconsistent with a genuine report of an active shooting. Despite the alleged warning that the address could be targeted, deputies reportedly responded as though the emergency were real. The family’s account says an officer approached the residence with instructions to treat the report as genuine until it was disproved.
The shooting and reported injuries
The claim says Melendez believed an intruder was breaking into the home when deputies arrived. He reportedly took his family’s legally owned handgun and positioned himself behind his bedroom door. Deputies allegedly broke through a window and opened fire.
According to the family’s filing, bullets struck Melendez in the right thigh and left shoulder. He also suffered a spinal cord injury, broken ribs and a broken leg. The family says the injuries resulted in partial paralysis and continuing needs for medical care, support and rehabilitation.
“Our justice system recognizes the dignity of a human life and the importance of the completeness of your body. Axeel’s health, his independence, his ability to earn a living, his sense of security, that’s all been stolen away from him,” Sethi said.
The sheriff’s office and legal response
The claim names the Pima County Sheriff’s Office and Chris Nanos, who has also been publicly addressing the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of television host Savannah Guthrie. The connection in this matter is the sheriff’s office and its personnel, not an allegation that the Guthrie investigation caused the shooting.
Sethi said the family had given the agency an opportunity to resolve the matter and placed responsibility for the next step with the county. The available account does not establish whether the sheriff’s office has accepted liability, offered a settlement or disputed the allegations. Any civil case would examine the warnings, dispatch decisions, deputies’ conduct and the extent of Melendez’s damages.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Axeel Melendez and his mother filed a notice of claim seeking $176 million. |
| 2 | Melendez says he warned 911 about a possible swatting attack before deputies arrived. |
| 3 | The alleged false call reported a shooting at Melendez’s address. |
| 4 | The claim says deputies’ gunfire caused multiple injuries and partial paralysis. |
Summary
The case centers on whether dispatchers and deputies adequately handled warnings about a potential swatting attack. The Melendez family’s notice alleges that a false emergency call led to an armed response and that deputies’ actions caused life-changing injuries. The allegations remain subject to review through any settlement discussions or civil litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is swatting?
Swatting is the act of making a false emergency report about a specific location to trigger a law enforcement response, often with the aim of confronting the people at that address.
Who filed the claim?
Axeel Melendez and his mother, Carmen Melendez, filed the notice of claim against the Pima County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Chris Nanos.
What injuries are alleged?
The claim says Melendez was shot in the right thigh and left shoulder and suffered a spinal cord injury, broken ribs and a broken leg, resulting in partial paralysis.
