A man who was found dead in his backyard after shooting police at his home in Rancho El Dorado Monday afternoon and barricading himself in his village for two hours has been acting strangely around the city. identified as Brian Simmons, who has a history of
Simmons, 39, is the man detained two weeks ago after he rushed past the front desk of the Copper Sky Gym complex and started training despite not having a membership. He was charged with trespassing and theft of services and imprisoned in the Pinal County Jail. He was involved in a trespassing incident at a gymnasium on March 19.
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Last weekend around 9:20 am on Saturday, a shirtless Simmons was spotted throwing his shirt at passing cars on Northbound Lane 3 of John Wayne Parkway near West Altera Parkway. Simmons was also observed making sporadic movements towards a moving vehicle, causing multiple vehicles to turn. Shortly after, Simmons was seen sprinting north on the sidewalk of Plainview Street as Maricopa Police pursued him in a cruiser, crossing Honeycutt Road to his home.
Neighbors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Simmons was walking up and down the street, throwing clothes and shouting obscenities.
A drone photo of his property taken Monday morning showed debris littering the outside of the home.
His Facebook page was flooded with obscene posts and pictures of obscene gestures. He has repeatedly posted that Connor, an Irish professional mixed martial artist who is a former Ultimate Featherweight and Lightweight Champion in his Fighting Championships, will face McGregor. Simmons also made repeated threats against nationally known podcaster Joe Rogan.
Simmons’ page said he was from Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Simmons is the owner of a home on the 43900 block of West McCord Drive, where the Maricopa Police Department was called Monday morning over a loud music complaint, according to Pinal County Assessor’s Office records.
When the police arrived, Simmons entered his garage and then retreated to the house.
“He retreated from the garage to the house and started firing at officers before gunshots were exchanged,” MPD spokesman Sgt. Hal Couser. “He barricaded his house.”
A Pinal County regional SWAT team called in to assist the Maricopa PD sent two BearCat SWAT vehicles and several SWAT officers and communications vehicles to attempt contact with Simmons.
At approximately 1:30 pm, members of the Pinal County Regional SWAT Team approached the residence and found the deceased suspect in the yard.
“They did a great job,” Couser said of the SWAT team. “They broke into the house and found the subject dead in the backyard.”
Maricopa officers also deployed drones to assist them during the standoff.
Simmons’ home is just one block from Butterfield Elementary School, which was shut down as a precautionary measure during the accident. There was no direct threat to the school and no injuries on campus.
At 1:16 PM, a loud boom was heard in the area.
Cooser said officers believe the cause of death was a shooting, but it is not yet known if it was the result of police or self-inflicted injuries, but the Pinal County coroner will determine the cause of death. .
No officers were injured, Cooser said.
Maricopa police closed the area to traffic and urged local residents to stay home.
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting involving officers. The investigation is active and ongoing.
