Shootings

Did Phoenix Police Need to Kill Zachariah Pithan?

During the uproar over the 2010 shooting death of South Phoenix resident Danny Rodriguez by former Phoenix Police Officer Richard Chrisman, I often wondered why two Phoenix cops could not subdue one unarmed man without resorting to lethal force. See also: -Richard Chrisman Report Released by Phoeni ... More >>

Jared Loughner Was Always "Pissed at the Pigs," According to Newly Released Documents

Thousands of pages of records have been released from Pima County Sheriff's Department's investigation of Jared Loughner's 2011 shooting that killed six people and injured 13, including former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, perhaps giving more insight into Loughner's life.Interviews with Loughner ... More >>

Scottsdale Cops Shoot, Kill Man Wanted for Questioning in Sex Crimes

Scottsdale police officers shot and killed a man this morning who was wanted for questioning in sex crimes.Police haven't released the 45-year-old man's name, but Scottsdale Officer David Pubins says in an e-mail that the man first pointed the gun at himself, then pointed it at officers, before firi ... More >>

Phoenix Teen Dead After He and Brothers Use Rocks and Knives Against Neighbor With a Gun

A Phoenix teenager is dead and his two brothers are in jail, after they allegedly went after their neighbor -- who had a gun -- with knives and large rocks.Phoenix police Sergeant Steve Martos says the man who fatally shot 17-year-old Theodore Curley on Saturday night was questioned and released by ... More >>

Phoenix Man Shot and Killed After Apparently Tossing Gasoline on an ADOT Employee

A 43-year-old man was shot and killed in Phoenix last night by an Arizona Department of Transportation employee in an apparent self-defense shooting.This apparent self-defense shooting doesn't seem to be nearly as questionable as those featured often in national news coverage, as police say Quentine ... More >>

MCSO Deputy in Critical Condition After Being Shot Several Times in Peoria

A deputy with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office was shot "several times" while conducting a traffic stop in Peoria shortly after midnight on Tuesday.MCSO Sergeant Brandon Jones says Deputy Ruben Garcia, who's been with the MCSO for 29 years, pulled over a truck that was related to a call the Sher ... More >>

Thanksgiving Day Murder of Ex-Con in Phoenix Was Mexican Mafia Hit, Cops Say

A suspected Mexican Mafia member has been arrested in the shooting death of ex-con Erasmo Ledezma on Thanksgiving, as police say Mexican Mafia members had a "green light" to kill Ledezma because he had previously "snitched" to the cops.The alleged gangster and shooter has been identified as Steven B ... More >>

Border Patrol Agent Killed, Another Wounded in Shooting Near Bisbee

A U.S. Border Patrol agent was killed and another one was wounded in a shooting this morning near Bisbee.The agents were stationed at the Border Patrol station in Naco, which is named after slain Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.

Glendale Police Answer the Burning Question: Cardinals Fan Shot the Raiders Fan

The Glendale Police Department still hasn't gotten into a ton of detail about Friday's shooting outside the University of Phoenix Stadium, but the question the burning question has been answered -- the Arizona Cardinals fan shot the Oakland Raiders fan.The shooting occurred in a parking lot outside ... More >>

Oakland Raiders Come to Town, and While Not Entirely Surprising, Someone Did Get Shot

The Oakland Raiders came to town on Friday to play some preseason football against the Arizona Cardinals, and someone got shot.According to Glendale police, a man called police saying he'd "accidentally" shot another man in a parking lot just north of the University of Phoenix stadium, and waited at ... More >>

Video Released of David Hulstedt Shot in Back, Then Dragged 400 Feet on Knees by Scottsdale Police

See also: Scottsdale Police Used Excessive Force in '08 Shooting of Man Left as Paraplegic, Judge Rules After writing Tuesday about the troubling case of David Hulstedt, the mentally ill man shot in the back by Scottsdale police, we obtained the full video (see below) of the incident from Hulstedt ... More >>

Thomas Moton's Accused of Murdering His Ex-Girlfriend at Her Daughter's Graduation Ceremony

A woman attending her daughter's middle-school graduation ceremony was killed in an Avondale school's parking lot Friday, in a shooting police believe was carried out by her ex-boyfriend.Takesha Barnes -- a domestic-violence victim who had just taken out an order of protection against 38-year-old Th ... More >>

Gilbert Boy, 10, "Accidentally" Shoots 12-Year-Old Sister With Handgun, Say Cops; Dad is Police Officer

A 10-year-old boy shot his 12-year-old sister with a handgun by accident, Gilbert police say.Their dad is a police officer.The incident happened at about 8:30 this morning, according to a news release just put out by Gilbert police Sergeant William Balafas.Police learned of the shooting after the gi ... More >>

Scholarship Set Up to Honor Slain MCSO Deputy William Coleman

MCSOSlain MCSO Deputy Bill Coleman​A scholarship has been set up to honor the memory of slain Maricopa County Sheriff's Deputy Bill Coleman, who was murdered last month while responding to a burglary call at a medical facility in Anthem.The Rotary Club of Anthem is the group behind the scholarship ... More >>

Drew Ryan Maras, Possible "UFO-ologist," Identified as Shooter in Murder of MCSO Deputy

​The man authorities say is responsible for murdering a Maricopa County Sheriff's deputy over the weekend has been identified as 30-year-old Drew Ryan Maras -- which happens to be the same name as a "UFO-ologist" who wrote a book titled Open Your Eyes: To 2012 and Beyond. The Sheriff's Office won' ... More >>

Victim Identified in Last Night's Freeway Shooting. Suspect Still Loose

Phoenix Police DepartmentMichael Arvallo (right) at Pat's Run.​Phoenix police have identified the victim in a fatal shooting last night on the I-10 -- which forced the highway to be closed until about 8:30 this morning -- as 49-year-old Michael Arvallo.Phoenix Sergeant Steve Martos says the shooti ... More >>

Beer Thief Steals 12-Pack -- Before Getting Shot Several Times By Mini-Mart Clerk

Yavapai County Sheriff's OfficeScott LaFonte was shot several times after attempting to steal a 12-pack of beer from a convenience store last night.​If you plan to steal beer from Mike's Mini Market in Prescott, you better bring a gun -- there's a chance you'll get shot. Scott LaFonte, 35, learned ... More >>

Drive-By Shooting in West Phoenix Leaves Three Injured; Suspects Loose

www.spreadshirt.com​Three people -- including a 14-year-old boy -- were injured during a drive-by shooting in west Phoenix last night, and the shooter is still on the loose.The Phoenix Police Department says the three victims were walking to a birthday party in a neighborhood near 23rd Avenue and ... More >>

Apache Junction Trailer Park Shooting Leaves Two Dead; Police Hunting for Three Suspects

The shooting occurred near the corner of Superstition Boulevard and Ironwood Drive in Apache Junction​Police in Apache Junction discovered the bodies of two people fatally shot inside a trailer home last night and are now on the hunt for three people, officials say. About 10:30 p.m. yesterday, a ... More >>

Third Suspect in "Execution" of Buckeye Officer Located and Released; Second Officer Will Survive, Police Say

Buckeye Police DepartmentOfficers Christopher Paz (left) and Rolando Tirado. Tirado was senselessly killed by thugs during a traffic stop early Sunday morning.​The second officer shot during the execution-style murder of a Buckeye police officer over the weekend is expected to recover, the Phoenix ... More >>

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords to Attend Astronaut Husband's Shuttle Launch

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords plans to attend her husband's April shuttle launch.​It's only been about two months since Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot "through the brain" during the January 8, shooting rampage in Tucson, but her staff confirms today that she plans to attend her ... More >>

Jared Loughner Judge Denies Request to Block Release of Victims' Autopsies

Jared Lee Loughner​The judge handling the case of Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner denied requests from both prosecutors and Loughner's defense attorney to block the release of autopsy reports of the victims of the shooting to the public.Prosecutors filed a motion voicing concerns that media ... More >>

Jared Loughner Trial by September, Judge Orders

Jared Loughner will go to trial by September.​The judge overseeing the case of Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner ordered yesterday that his trial is to take place by September 20.So far, Loughner's been charged with two counts of attempted murder, and one count of attempted assassination for ... More >>

Institute for Political Civility Opens at U of A in Response to Tucson Shootings. Greta Van Susteren to Serve on Board

Greta Van Susteren ​If any good came from the shooting rampage in Tucson last month, it's an institution opening today at the University of Arizona with the goal of getting politicos to tone down the rhetoric.The National Institute for Civil Discourse opens today in Tucson. The organization is des ... More >>

Mark Kelly, Husband of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Heading to Space

Gabrielle Giffords' husband, Mark Kelly, is heading back to space.​After weeks of consideration, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' astronaut husband has decided he'll head to space in April on the space shuttle Endeavor's final mission.Mark Kelly took a leave from training after Giffords was shot ... More >>

Jared Loughner Pleads Not Guilty. Reportedly Smiling in Courtroom

Jared Loughner pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.​Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner was in a Phoenix federal courtroom this morning where he pleaded not guilty to charges that he tried to kill Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and two of her a ... More >>

Rodney Glassman Used Gabby Giffords' Shooting To Campaign For Chair

Note the date on the Glassman e-mail: two days after the bloodshed in TucsonLike you needed more proof that erstwhile Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rodney Glassman is a charlatan, take a look at this mass e-mail, sent out by Glassman on January 10, two days after the Tucson massacre, which severe ... More >>

Saving Ears, Not People: Seven Cases in Which Mass Shooters, Including Jared Loughner, Used Ear Protection

  ​Jared Lee Loughner is just one of many mass shooters in recent history who worried more about damaging his hearing than slaughtering innocent people. Video surveillance footage reportedly shows that Tucson shooter Jared Lee Loughner had inserted ear plugs before opening fire with hi ... More >>

Heroes Who Restrained Jared Loughner Probably Prevented Gunman From Killing Self

Jared Loughner left a series of bizarre notes in a safe in his home prior to Saturday's shooting in Tucson. ​Four people who restrained murder suspect Jared Loughner during Saturday's shooting rampage in Tucson may have prevented him from killing not only additional innocent bystanders who a ... More >>

Jared Loughner: "I Planned Ahead"

Jared Loughner left a series of bizarre notes in a safe in his home prior to Saturday's shooting in Tucson.​Authorities investigating Saturday's shooting rampage in Tucson found some bizarre notes in the home of Jared Loughner, the man accused of killing six people and injuring several other ... More >>

Gabrielle Giffords Shooting: Second Suspect Sought by Authorities

Jared Loughner (above) may have had an accomplice in this morning's shooting rampage that left six people dead.​Law enforcement officials investigating this morning's shooting rampage in Tucson just wrapped up a press conference and say they have reason to believe there could be a second sus ... More >>

Phoenix Strip Clubs Targeted by Shooters in Two Separate Attacks; Three Dead, Including One Suspect

  ​A couple of Phoenix strip clubs turned into war zones over the Christmas weekend as homicidal gunmen shot up the joints in two separate attacks.   A bouncer and club patron at Great Alaskan Bush Company, 2900 Northwest Grand Avenue, were killed in Sunday night's atta ... More >>

Christopher Smith, Influential Arizona Politico Found Shot to Death, Had History With Drugs

Christopher Smith​Christopher Smith, the former chief of staff for the state Senate found shot to death Saturday, had a history of drug use and other "bizarre" and "erratic" behavior , court records show.We hate to say it, but we called this one -- which is why on Monday we asked Phoenix Police Se ... More >>

One-on-One Time With a Pinal County Deputy -- Whose Claim He Was Shot by a Drug Smuggler Is Full of Holes -- Produces Startling Results

Woman Shot in Mesa; Suspect Found Swimming in Nearby Canal

www.techknowledge.co.uk...that the police don't find you.​A woman was shot in front of an apartment complex in Mesa last night and one of the two suspects police say was involved was found swimming in a nearby canal shortly after.Around 8:30 last night, police got a call that there were shots fire ... More >>

Tempe Police Release Information on Suspects in Murder of ASU Student

Zachary Marco​The Tempe Police Department today -- in the wake of criticism over how it's handling several unsolved murder cases -- released details about the suspects in the murder of a 21-year-old Arizona State University student.Zachary Marco was shot near University Drive ... More >>

Phoenix Sergeant Fatally Shot Near Capitol Identified; Once Awarded Medal of Valor

Phoenix PDPhoenix Police Sergeant Sean Drenth​The Phoenix Police Department has identified the sergeant found shot to death near the state capitol last night.The deceased officer is 35-year-old Sergeant Sean Drenth.Drenth is a 12-year veteran of the department and leaves behind his wife of 13 year ... More >>

Suspect Arrested in Yesterday's West Phoenix Apartment Shooting

Anthony Granado​Phoenix police have made an arrest in the case of a man murdered yesterday at a party at a West Phoenix apartment complex.Anthony Granado, 21, was arrested yesterday afternoon after witnesses at the party identified him as the person who shot and killed 29-year-old Haki Miggins. Ac ... More >>

Man Shot in Accident at Gun-Training Academy Owned by Buz Mills, Candidate for Governor

  ​ A man was mistaken for a target and shot at Gunsite Academy, a gun-training facility in Paulden, the Arizona Republic reports today. That happens to be the same 2,000-acre facility owned by Buz Mills, a Republican candidate for governor -- not that the Repub writer Jolie M ... More >>

A Nightmare in Las Cruces Opening Night

Photo Radar Van Worker Shot Dead on Loop 101; UPDATE: Suspect in Custody

  Police are hunting have arrested a suspect in a SUV who shot a photo radar van operator Sunday night. (SEE UPDATE AT BOTTOM OF POST).  The 51-year-old victim, Doug Georgianni, had worked for the photo enforcement company Redflex as a "driver-technician" for only three months, ... More >>

It's No Consolation to the Families of Local Cops Who've Died, but Cop Killings by Gunfire Dropped Big-Time in '08

The Death Penalty Information Center out of Washington D.C. sends along a feel-good statistic from 2008: The number of cops killed nationally by gunfire in the recently completed year dropped to its lowest level in about half a century. Of course, that's no consolation for the loved ... More >>

Fear Factor

Two serial murderers loom among us. Inside the case of the Baseline Killer's first Phoenix victim

A Life That Almost Happened

A Phoenix cop gunned down Alfonso Celaya four months ago. His family still waits for justice, or at least an explanation.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Crackdown

After years of neglect, a Maryvale neighborhood and the Phoenix police evict the West Side City Crips

Got'em

GITEM, the state's $12 million antigang task force, storms Casa Grande and shoots a smalltime scofflaw in the back

Getting Down

IMAGE IS EVERYTHING

FRIENDS OF A MURDER VICTIM SAY POLICE LABELED THEM AS GANG MEMBERS--AND IGNORED OPPORTUNITIES TO CAPTURE THE KILLER