A Fountain Hills man was shot and killed by a Maricopa County Sheriff’s lieutenant early Sunday morning as he attempted to get the officer’s gun.

According to a Sheriff’s spokesman, David Brandstetter, 26, was fatally shot July 13 as he attacked the lieutenant in his MCSO vehicle.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Brandstetter was naked at about 12:45 a.m. while walking in traffic along El Pueblo Boulevard, causing drivers to swerve to avoid hitting him and prompting two 911 calls, as well as a traffic accident.

When Sheriff’s Watch Commander Lt. Markley Johnson, a 29-year-MCSO employee, responded to the 911 calls, he found Brandstetter walking naked on El Pueblo Blvd. and appearing to be acting erratically.

When Johnson stopped to investigate, Arpaio says, Brandstetter opened the lieutenant’s patrol car door, jumped on top of Johnson, attacked him, punched him and demanded that the officer give him his service weapon.

When Brandstetter tried to forcibly take the lieutenant’s weapon, Markley shot him. Paramedics responded but Brandstetter was dead at the scene.

The Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation.

Look for additional information in Wednesday's edition of The Times.