The Phoenix Police Department continues to aggressively investigate the series of unsolved homicides that have occurred in west Phoenix. Part of the investigation included reviewing all incidents that may be related since January 1, 2016. Investigators have completed that review and identified four additional incidents believed to be related to the same serial street shooter/s. The additional incidents include one homicide, two aggravated assaults, and one criminal damage / shots fired. All of these incidents were already under investigation but have now been included in the series of violent crimes previously linked and reported. To ensure you are aware of all of the cases, here is a recap of incidents related to this series.
- March 17, 2016: At approximately 11:30 p.m., a 16-year-old male was shot while walking in the street in the area of 1100 E. Moreland St. His injuries were not life threatening.
- March 18, 2016: At approximately 11:30 p.m., a 21-year-old male was shot while standing in the street outside of his vehicle in the area of 4300 N. 73rd Av. His injuries were not life threatening.
- April 1, 2016: At approximately 9:00 p.m., Diego Verdugo-Sanchez was shot and killed in front of a home in the area of 5500 W. Turney Ave.
- April 19, 2016: At approximately 4:30 a.m., 55-year-old Krystal Annette White was found deceased from apparent gunshot injuries sustained in the area of 500 N. 32nd St.
- June 3, 2016: At approximately 9:50 p.m., Horacio De Jesus Pena was shot and killed in front of a home in the area of 6700 W. Flower St.
- June 10, 2016: At approximately 9:30 p.m., Manuel Castro Garcia was shot and killed in front of a home in the area of 6500 W. Coronado.
- June 12, 2016: At approximately 2:35 a.m., an unoccupied vehicle was shot and damaged in the area of 6200 W. Mariposa Dr.
- June 12, 2016: At approximately 3:00 a.m., Angela Linner, Maleah Ellis, and Stefanie Ellis were shot and killed in front of a home in the area of 6300 W. Berkeley Rd.
The Phoenix Police Department continues to reach out to the community to solicit information and tips regarding all of these unsolved incidents. Please encourage your audiences to report information to the Phoenix Police Department or Silent Witness.
The following agencies are directly contributing with investigative and/or financial support which has raised the Silent Witness Reward to $30,000. The United States Marshal’s Service, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The task force established remains available 24/7 to investigate any information that may help resolve these unsolved crimes.
“Someone out there knows who did this. We need our community to call us or Silent Witness and help us solve these cases, bring justice to these families and victims, and prevent more violence from occurring,” said Phoenix Police Chief Joseph Yahner.
“It is critical at this time that prosecutors and law enforcement partner together with the community to support one another and find those responsible for these craven acts,” said County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “I urge all of our residents to remain vigilant. If you have any information or suspicion, please contact authorities so the perpetrators can be brought to justice.”
“It’s time like these, when violent predators victimize our fellow citizens, that the cooperative relationship between the community and it’s police department is most crucial. The Arizona Department of Public Safety is proud to partner with the Phoenix Police Department and all Phoenicians, in encouraging citizens’ help to remove this menace from our streets,” said DPS Director Frank Milstead. “No fact is too small and no suspicious activity is too slight; if you see something, say something.”