A construction site in central Phoenix turned into a homicide scene after a shooting incident on Sunday morning left one worker dead and another critically injured. According to the FOX 10 Phoenix, officers were alerted around 8 a.m. near 39th Street and Thomas Road by witnesses of the crime.
As per Sgt. Mayra Reeson's statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix, it appears there was an altercation between the suspect and the victims prior to the shooting. Mistakenly being produced during the conflict, the firearm carried by the suspect was discharged, resulting in the death of 48-year-old Alan David Whitworth and grave injuries to a 19-year-old man currently in the hospital.
The suspect remains at large, and authorities have yet to provide a detailed description or potential motive for the attack. 12News reports that police described the attack as brutal, with the suspect shooting both victims multiple times, "and again when the victims were on the ground."
Phoenix Police are soliciting help from the public, asking witnesses or anyone in possession of photos or videos of the incident to come forward. The victims, caught in the midst of their labor erecting a fence, were targeted by the suspect in a seemingly random act of violence. Sgt. Reeson pointed out to FOX 10 Phoenix, "We do not believe they knew each other," implying the suspect and the victims were strangers before the fatal encounter.
A concerned neighbor, Catrina Campbell, expressed her shock to FOX 10 Phoenix, saying, "We heard helicopters at about 8:15," highlighting the severity of the situation as it unfolded in what she described as a normally serene neighborhood. Campbell, sympathetic to the victims' families, shared her hope for swift justice, "I hope that they find this person for the family of the people involved."
The Phoenix Police Department is requesting that any information be directed to them at 602-262-6151 or to Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS for anonymous tips. As investigation efforts continue, the police assure there is no believed ongoing threat to the public. More details will be shared pending further developments in the case.
