Phoenix

One Dead, One Injured in Shooting at Peoria Sports Bar, Intervening Patrons Praised by Police

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Published on May 22, 2025
One Dead, One Injured in Shooting at Peoria Sports Bar, Intervening Patrons Praised by PoliceSource: Google Street View

Tragedy erupted late Tuesday night at Deli Sports Bar in Peoria, where an intoxicated patron, after being ejected from the establishment, resorted to gun violence. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, 46-year-old Mario Franco of El Mirage was pronounced dead following a confrontation with two armed individuals who intervened during the incident.

The dispute began inside the bar, located near 95th and Peoria Avenues, where Franco was denied service due to his intoxication. Officials say he was then escorted outside, and it was at this point that Franco retrieved a gun from his vehicle and began firing. With shots fired into both the air and the establishment, an innocent person inside the bar was struck, said Peoria Police Officer Kristopher Babros in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix. The injured party has since been released from the hospital.

In what seemed like moments of decisive action, two men sitting on a park bench outside the bar engaged Franco after he started shooting into the bar. A shootout ensued in the parking lot, where Franco was fatally shot, and the two men who were also armed walked away without physical injuries. They remained at the scene and cooperated with law enforcement upon their arrival, as detailed by AZ Family.

When the Peoria Police arrived, they found the two men still pointing their handguns towards Franco, who lay within the passenger side of his BMW sedan, indicating a gruesome and chaotic scene. Having been briefly detained, these men were commended by Babros for intervening "before any other innocent people were hurt," as reported by AZ Family. With the situation contained, there is reportedly no further threat to the community.

Peoria Police are now focused on reviewing surveillance footage, gathering evidence from the crime scene, and interviewing witnesses.