Who was Paul Bolden? Arizona man who kidnapped his own son shot in head, reveals shocking bodycam footage
Disclaimer: Video contains graphic content
PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Bodycam footage released by Phoenix PD shows the gunfire exchange between a Black man holding a baby and officers. The confrontation ended in the death of the suspect. On January 9, police were called out to a motel near 7th Avenue and Van Buren Street. Security cameras showed a man and a woman wrestling over in the parking lot. By the time the police arrived on the scene, the domestic dispute had gone horribly wrong. The man, who was later identified as 37-year-old Paul Bolden, grabbed the baby and ran into the streets.
Three 911 calls placed
On January 9, three calls were placed to emergency services. Surveillance video from the motel shows Bolden knocking a woman down and yanking a baby out of her arms. The first call is placed by an employee who tells the operator that a couple is fighting in the parking lot. 911 then receives a call from the frantic mother of the baby. She tells the operator that her husband took her baby from her and has a gun. Surveillance video shows the man with the baby running into traffic. "He's trying to shoot, he's gonna kill people," the woman says to the 911 dispatcher.
Emergency services then receive a call from a witness who reported the suspect holding a driver at gunpoint. "I'm at the McDonald's drive-thru and there's this black man that stopped a white car and he has a gun and has a baby in his arms," said the caller. "He stopped the white car in the street and he has a baby in his arms and he has a gun."
Rescue mission
A little further away, Bolden stopped a random car. On the newly released police bodycam video, Bolden is heard firing at least one shot while standing in front of the car and holding the baby.But the police weren't going to take any chances. They told Bolden to stop and drop the gun. Phoenix police say that Bolden was pointing the gun at his son when he was shot, although the view in the video is obstructed. But it was clear that Bolden wasn't up for any negotiations, as even callers told police that he was shooting at people while holding the boy. Later, investigators said they found bullet holes at multiple nearby businesses. One officer shot Bolden in the head with a rifle, and a second officer ran to rescue the boy.
Bodycam footage shows the child, who was later identified as 1-year-old Casino, crying and an officer trying to console him, "Hi buddy, hey buddy, are you okay?" Bolden was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The criminal and internal investigation, which will determine if charges will be filed and whether officers followed department policy, is on as the police officer involved in the shooting are reportedly still on patrol. Reports also say that they have been with the Phoenix Police Department for four years.
A doting father
Casino's mother, Priscilla Chavez, reportedly said he was a "devoted dad" and the love of her life. She also believes that officers did not have to shoot him in the head. She added that the "person you see in the video that is not him, that does not define him". She went on to say that he had been awake for four days doing drugs at the time of the shooting.