Scottsdale police say a man assaulted residents at an apartment complex Oct. 15 after they declined to do cocaine with him, then returned and fired multiple shots into the building, according to charging documents and a police report.
Initial assault at apartment
Officers were summoned to the complex about 10:40 a.m. on Oct. 15 for a reported assault. When police arrived, they observed a man later identified as Samuel Sedgwick riding a bicycle away from the scene. He was detained nearby, and officers located a loaded handgun near a dumpster in the vicinity.
Victims told police Sedgwick — who they said appeared to be impaired by drugs or alcohol — showed up at their apartment and asked them to do cocaine with him. When they refused, one of the residents said Sedgwick called that refusal “
offensive to his culture,” removed his shirt and began punching and kicking one of the victims.
Another resident told officers they grabbed a hammer and struck Sedgwick in the face twice during the confrontation. According to the report, Sedgwick then produced a firearm, pointed it at people in the apartment, threatened to kill one of them, hit another victim with the gun and sprayed pepper spray before leaving and warning he would return to kill them.
Return and gunfire
After leaving the property, the report says Sedgwick became angry when he realized a tooth was chipped. He allegedly came back to the apartment complex and fired about 10 shots into the building, aiming at the targeted unit. Those rounds reportedly missed the intended apartment and struck a neighboring unit; police said nobody was home in that neighboring unit at the time.
Investigators reviewed surveillance video from the area that captured a man riding a bicycle at approximately the same time the shots were fired, the report states.
Evidence recovered and suspect history
When Sedgwick was detained, officers allege he told them he was not allowed to possess a firearm because he is a convicted felon. In a subsequent search of his residence, police reported recovering a handgun, a flashlight, pepper spray, a bag of white powder and ammunition that matched shell casings recovered at the scene.
| Detail | Reported information |
|---|---|
| Date of incident | Oct. 15 |
| Time police called | About 10:40 a.m. |
| Shots fired | About 10 rounds; neighboring unit struck, no one home |
| Items recovered | Handgun, pepper spray, flashlight, bag of white powder, matching ammunition |
- Suspect: Samuel Sedgwick, detained near the scene
- Allegations: Assault, firearm used to threaten and strike victims, discharge of firearm into residence
- Police action: Detention, search of residence, evidence recovery, review of surveillance footage
The reporting materials do not specify formal charges or the suspect’s current custody status beyond the detention and the items recovered; court records or Scottsdale Police Department statements may provide updates as the investigation proceeds.
The incident underscores ongoing public safety concerns in neighborhoods where violent confrontations and firearms are involved. Detectives continue to investigate and seek to determine circumstances that led to the altercation, the source of the firearm and any possible additional victims or witnesses.
Residents with information or surveillance video from the area around the time of the incident were asked to contact Scottsdale police. Authorities have not released a public safety advisory tying this incident to other crimes in the city.
The Scottsdale Police Department encourages anyone with knowledge of threats, weapons possession by prohibited persons or suspicious activity to report it immediately to local law enforcement.
