The streets of west Phoenix have been marred by tragedy after the arrest of a suspect in the fatal drive-by shooting of a 15-year-old girl, GiaGinette Brown. Isaac Orozco, 17, has been taken into custody, facing second-degree murder among other felony charges, according to Phoenix police. Following the horrifying incident that occurred in the early hours of Sept. 3, a person of interest, 16-year-old Jason "JJ" Richards, is currently being sought in connection with the killing. If you have information, you can contact Phoenix police at 602-262-6151 or submit tips through Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or for Spanish speakers, at 480-TESTIGO.
Or found Orozco's arrest comes in the wake of an investigation launched by the authorities after gunshots shattered the Brown family's home, situated near 107th Avenue and Camelback Road, between midnight and 3 a.m. The teenager was in her bed when the home was targeted, as confirmed by Sgt. Rob Scherer to FOX 10 Phoenix. The suspect, Orozco, was later apprehended and booked into a juvenile detention center before being indicted as an adult.
GiaGinette Brown's passing has left her community in shock and mourning. Remembered by her aunt Gabby Dancy as "a bright spot in everyone’s life," Brown was a varsity cheerleader and a diligent student. She was fatally shot in what should have been the safety of her home. "She is 15 years old and went to bed in her house, which should be a safe spot in her bed, and in the back of our house, our house was shot up," Brown's aunt Terri Smith told FOX 10 Phoenix. The family has since sought the public's assistance to unearth leads that might bring justice to the bereaved and the community at large.
As the neighborhood grapples with the aftermath of this horrendous act, local residents have voiced their fears and frustrations. Sounding gunshots preceding the tragic event startled many, including 19-year-old Logan Reynolds, who expressed his concern to FOX 10 Phoenix, citing a rise in crime and the potential danger to his young relatives playing outside. Another neighbor, Robert Porter, recounted the distinct and chilling gunfire, lamenting the situation as "really sad".
