A west Phoenix neighborhood was rocked by a shooting and subsequent multi-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a teenage driver and left another individual injured. Authorities identified the deceased as 19-year-old David Juarez, whose vehicle erupted into flames following a collision near 67th Avenue and Fillmore Street last week.
The chaotic scene unfolded just before 1 p.m. on Feb. 29, and was described by local resident, Mary, as resembling a "warzone," due to the severity of the crash and fire; the incident left residents stunned and in a state of disbelief over the sudden turn of tumult within their community, as Mary told azfamily.com, "It was just like a warzone. Like they had a movie, and they decided we’re going to shoot it here and tear up cars." Another resident, Aylissa Ingram, reported the loss of multiple family vehicles and essential items to azfamily.com, saying, “That Camry was on fire, and my car was thrown into the neighbor’s house over there on fire, and my other car was in the middle of the street completely totaled,”
Investigators have linked the crash to a reported shooting at a nearby home where evidence was discovered, according to Phoenix Police Sgt. Mayra Reeson. However, no additional victims or suspects were found at the location. Phoenix Police took Richard Salazar, 19, into custody on May 1 about the fatal incident. As per FOX 10 Phoenix, Salazar now faces charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery.
As the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office continues its investigation to determine Juarez's exact cause of death police have not yet established if it was the shooting or the car fire that killed Juarez and Mary expressed the community's sorrow to azfamily.com, stating, “I saw he was young, the other guy was young, so his friends got to be young, his mother and just to burn in a car, who wants to see that,” As investigations advance, anyone with more information is encouraged to reach out to Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or provide an anonymous tip online, with rewards being offered for details leading to an arrest in the case.
