Phoenix has been transfixed by a tragic shooting that occurred early this month at an east Phoenix construction site. Now, the police have reported that a suspect is in custody. 31-year-old Marquea Cato was arrested on the evening of September 19 near 40th Street and McDowell Road, as per Arizona's Family. The arrest ended a tense period of investigation following the shooting incident that left one construction worker dead and another critically injured on the morning of September 1, as per Hoodline.
The altercation, which ultimately turned deadly, took place at approximately 8:00 a.m. near 39th Street and Thomas Road. Police were alerted to the violence by witnesses who stated that two men had been shot following an argument at the site, where they were supposed to be working on a construction project. The Phoenix Police Department identified the deceased as 48-year-old Alan David Whitworth, who died at the scene, and 19-year-old Jamal Avery, who sustained critical injuries and is currently fighting to recover fully. "Preliminary information from the scene is the two victims were working on a construction project when an argument with the suspect took place. The suspect produced a firearm and the shooting took place," Sgt. Mayra Reeson of the Phoenix Police detailed in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix.
Following the shooting, the suspect was said to have calmly left the area. “He just walked away like nothing. He didn’t run. He didn’t jog. He just walked away,” a witness described to Arizona's Family. This nonchalant departure came after a brief but fateful confrontation where the fate of the workers was irrevocably altered.
The wife of Jamal Avery, the injured victim, witnessed the events unfold and recounted a harrowing tale. Reportedly, Cato and the two workers got into a heated dispute that escalated quickly. "Alan got in between them and the guy pointed it (the gun) at them. And Alan started fighting for it,” she told Arizona's Family. Her account, supported by other witnesses, provided critical clues that led to Cato's eventual arrest. Marquea Cato has since been booked into jail.
As the community reels from the violence, police continue to investigate the circumstances behind the altercation. The details provided in witness statements and the prompt work by the Phoenix Police suggest that the suspect, now in custody, will soon have to face the consequences as the legal process unfolds.
