Maryvale serial shooter

Maryvale serial shooter
Born Unknown
Killings
Victims 7 killed, 2 wounded
Span of killings
 March 17, 2016–July 11, 2016
Country United States
State(s) Arizona
Date apprehended
 Currently unapprehended

The Maryvale serial shooter is an unidentified serial killer who has been linked to nine separate shootings resulting in seven deaths and two injuries across Phoenix, Arizona in 2016, mainly in the Maryvale neighborhood.[1][2]

The shootings

The first shooting occurred on March 17 near 1100 E. Moreland St. A 16-year-old boy was shot and wounded while walking down the street at about 11:30 p.m.[3]

On March 18 at 11:30 p.m., a 21-year-old man was shot and wounded while standing outside his vehicle at 4300 N. 73rd Ave.[3]

On April 1, 21-year-old Diego Verdugo-Sanchez was shot and killed at around 9:00 p.m. while visiting his pregnant fiancée and her family.[3][4]

On the early morning of April 19, 55-year-old Krystal Annette White was found shot to death at 500 N. 32nd St.[3]

On June 1 at 9:50 p.m., 32-year-old Horacio Pena was shot to death outside his house at 6700 W. Flower St. after returning home from work.[3][4]

On June 10 at 9:30 p.m., 19-year-old Manuel Castro Garcia was killed outside his house.[3][4] A police officer nearby heard the gunshots and rushed to the scene, but the killer had already fled.[5]

On June 12 at 2:35 a.m., the shooter opened fire on an unoccupied vehicle at 6200 W. Mariposa Drive.[3] Approximately half an hour later, the shooter killed 33-year-old Stefanie Ellis and her 12-year-old daughter Maleah outside their home. Their 31-year-old friend Angela Linner was also shot; she initially survived, but died from her wounds three weeks later.[3][4][6]

On July 11, the shooter opened fire on a car occupied by a 21-year-old man and a four-year-old boy, but neither was injured.[4]

Investigation

The murders of Verdugo-Sanchez, Pena, Garcia, and the triple homicide were linked together due to the fact that they all occurred in Maryvale and due to similarity in modus operandi.[7] The other shootings were later connected based on M.O. and location as well, though the murder of White and the first shooting occurred outside of Maryvale.[1]

A suspect was described by witnesses as a lanky dark-haired man in his early 20s.[1][2] He was also described as being under 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) tall and Latino.[8] However, police have not been able to rule out the possibility of multiple people being involved in the killings, as a car possibly containing more than one person was seen leaving the scene of two of the shootings,[1][5] and three gunmen were reported by witnesses to have carried out the killings of the Ellises and Linner.[7] However, police have stated that it is "unlikely" multiple people are involved the killings.[5]

The suspect is believed to be using multiple vehicles, including a black BMW 5 Series and a white Cadillac or Lincoln.[2][4]

A composite sketch of the shooter was released by authorities on August 3.[6]

Police released recordings of 9-1-1 calls related to the case on October 19 in an attempt to stir up more leads for the case.[9]

Psychological profile

FBI criminal profiler Brad Garrett believes that the shooter is a "thrill killer" and is seeking "intimacy" in the attacks as he shoots the victim from close range. Garrett also believes the shooter is likely inserting himself in the investigation or attending police-community meetings about the killings.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Phoenix police: 7 dead in 8 attacks by "serial street shooter"". CBS News. Associated Press. July 13, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Billeaud, Jacques (August 3, 2016). "Police Tie 9th Attack to Phoenix's Serial Killer Case". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Thomas, Jennifer (July 12, 2016). "Police: Serial killer behind 8 shootings, 7 deaths in Phoenix". CBS5AZ. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Connor, Tracy (August 4, 2016). "Phoenix Serial Killer Struck a Ninth Time, Police Say". NBC News. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 Staahl, Derek (August 15, 2016). "Cop heard serial killer shoot, kill 19-year-old victim". CBS 5 AZ. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Yan, Holly; Moshtaghian, Artemis; Park, Madison (August 4, 2016). "Phoenix police: Suspected serial killer linked to 9 shootings, 7 deaths". CNN. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Cassidy, Megan (June 21, 2016). "Police: 5 west Phoenix homicides likely connected". AZ Central. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  8. ↑ Egan, Leigh (August 6, 2016). "Phoenix Serial Killer: 9 Shootings, 7 Deaths, Police Offer $50K Reward For Capture". Inquistir. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  9. ↑ Billeaud, Jacques (October 29, 2016). "Phoenix serial killer 911 calls disclosed in bid for leads". KPNX. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  10. ↑ Volentine, Jason (August 17, 2016). "Profiler: Phoenix serial shooter looking for thrill in attacks". ABC 15. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
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