Autopsy report finds Scottsdale detective's death was accidental

The Maricopa County Coroner ruled that Scottsdale Detective Ryan So died by accident after a rifle he was retrieving fell to the ground, causing a shot to go off.

The autopsy report, obtained by The Arizona Republic Thursday afternoon, was largely consistent with the findings of Mesa police during their initial investigation in partnership with the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team.

A member of the Scottsdale Department's Special Assignment Unit had completed a search and arrest operation with other detectives near 76th Street and the Hayden Loop Greenway on the evening of June 13. He assisted another officer in loading equipment from one vehicle into another.

The autopsy report cited surveillance footage that showed part of the bag fell to the ground as So was pulling it from the vehicle. The butt of the rifle, still in the bag, struck the ground, causing a bullet to be fired from the gun and hit So in the neck.