El Mirage police have apprehended four teenagers in connection with a fatal robbery that resulted in the death of a 15-year-old boy. The boy, identified by a growing memorial as Mateo Corona, was lured under the pretext of a gun trade and subsequently shot on April 29, according to statements obtained by 12 News.
Joey Hernandez-Silvas, 18, reportedly planned the robbery after failing to acquire a gun from an individual in Surprise, Arizona. Unable to locate the original gun owner, Hernandez-Silvas and his group tracked down the 15-year-old boy who had obtained the weapon. As further detailed by 12 News, the victim was approached by the teens near his home's mailboxes, where the situation escalated to violence.
The El Mirage Police Department, with Chief Paul Marzocca at the helm, described the effort to capture the suspects as a high priority, expressing sympathy for the victim's family. Marzocca's statement, quoting, “This is a tragedy that resulted in the loss of a young community member’s life. The family affected by this willful act of violence is in our thoughts and prayers and will not soon be forgotten. The effort to bring the violent suspects to justice was a priority for my detectives and me,” shared by Arizona's Family.
The suspects, Hernandez-Silvas, 16-year-old Marcos Martinez, 17-year-old Fernando Avila, and 16-year-old Joshua Ochoa, are currently facing charges of murder and robbery. Martinez is alleged to have fired the fatal shots as the boy attempted to flee, "Stay still, don't move," one of the assailants ordered before the boy was shot, as a neighbor's surveillance recorded the aftermath. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is deliberating on whether the three underage suspects will be charged as adults, as reported by 12News.
Chris Cephus, who heard the gunshots and witnessed the gruesome scene, told 12 News, "It was terrifying. It was horrible. We just had another shooting in the neighborhood like a month before." In the wake of the shooting, a GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family of Mateo Corona during this difficult time.
