Yuma County Attorney Rules Wellton Officer Shooting Justified

A Wellton Police Department officer who shot and killed a 37-year-old woman outside a home on S. Dome Street has been cleared by the Yuma County Attorney's Office, which reviewed body camera footage, witness statements, and physical evidence before ruling the use of deadly force justified.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Jan. 16 after officers responded to a stabbing on Dome Street. The Wellton Police Department says officers responded to reports of a stabbing around 5 a.m. The responding officer found a victim who had severe injuries after being hit by a hatchet outside the home, prompting the officer to call for backup to help assist the victim.

When police arrived at the scene, they found the victim, who told them the suspect had assaulted her with a hatchet before retreating inside her home. Wellton police said the officer involved requested backup and used less-lethal rounds.

While the officer was coordinating backup, the suspect, a 37-year-old woman, exited the home armed with a hatchet and started to walk toward the officer. According to the investigation, the officer told the suspect multiple times to drop her weapon. Wellton police described the suspect as having "charged" at the officer with the hatchet. The officer told the suspect to drop the weapon, but she did not comply, leading the officer to shoot the suspect, and she was later pronounced dead.

The Yuma County Attorney's Office reviewed bodycam footage from the morning of January 16, when police responded to a report of aggravated assault on S. Dome Street, near Old U.S. Highway 80. Witness statements and physical evidence were also reviewed, and it was determined the shooting was justified.

The Yuma County Attorney's Office ruled the Wellton police officer acted appropriately in the officer-involved shooting, according to a police news release. No officers were injured.

The suspect's name has not been released by authorities. The Yuma Regional Critical Incident Response Team is separately investigating the incident. Wellton sits roughly 30 miles east of Yuma along Interstate 8, and the shooting on S. Dome Street marked the fifth officer-involved shooting in Arizona in 2026 at the time it occurred, according to initial reports. The identities of the officer or officers involved have not been made public, and no information has been released regarding any internal personnel actions following the shooting.