Roland B. Jahnke, 77, was found dead on the kitchen floor of his Tempe mobile home in the early morning of August 16, 2024. A 74-year-old woman placed a 911 call saying she believed her son had just killed her husband. Officers were met at the entrance to The Meadows mobile home park and directed to the residence near 48th Street and Southern Avenue.

As police surrounded the home they called for the son to come out. The victim’s 55-year-old stepson, Robert Purdie, emerged armed and refused to drop the gun. Purdie reportedly pointed the weapon at himself and then toward officers, at which point a 16-year Tempe officer fired, striking Purdie. He was taken to a hospital and had not yet been formally charged in Jahnke’s death; charges are expected after his medical release. Tempe police continue to investigate Jahnke’s death while Mesa police are probing the officer-involved shooting.

If anyone has information about Roland Jahnke, his stepson, or the events at The Meadows on August 16, 2024, please come forward.