Glendale, Arizona, became yet another name in the grim roster of U.S. cities affected by gun violence with a mass shooting event that unfolded at a local restaurant on Sunday evening, leaving three dead and five injured. The shooting, which occurred around 7:45 p.m. at El Camaron Gigante Mariscos & Steakhouse, has been described by Glendale Police as "chaotic" and is considered part of a surge of gun violence plaguing the country, according to a FOX 10 Phoenix report.
There has been a sharp increase in the number of mass shootings this year with Glendale marking the event number 97, defined by incidents wherein four or more individuals are wounded or killed. Glendale Police Officer Moroni Mendez, without confirming the exact number of individuals shot, indicated that "The number is closer to 9 now," according to FOX 10 Phoenix. Multiple shooters are believed to be involved, adding to the complexity of the case.
Initial reports from Glendale PD relayed the difficulty faced by responders at the scene. Mendez stated in an interview that an "enormous scene" greeted officers, complicating their response to the incident. Several individuals were detained, yet no suspects have been apprehended as of the latest updates, with authorities differentiating as to whether those detained were suspects, witnesses, or victims. Concerning the ongoing threat to the public, Mendez reassured the community, "There are no apprehensions at the moment. There are quite a few people detained, and we're trying to investigate whether they're suspects, victims, witnesses, investigative leads," as obtained by CNN.
The investigation into what led up to the shooting is ongoing, with many details still shrouded in uncertainty. According to Mendez, the relationship between the victims and the circumstances of their presence at the restaurant when the shooting occurred is not yet clear. "Whether they know each other, whether they're related, whether their allies or opponents – we don't know yet, and that's what we're trying to solve and figure out," Mendez told CNN. In the meanwhile, the severity of the injuries among the victims has not been disclosed.
As the community reels from the incident, witness accounts add a somber tone to the proceedings. Lupe Rodriguez, a bystander, recounted the heartbreaking aftermath to a KPHO/KTVK affiliate, "I heard people yelling out names. There was a man on the ground and it didn’t look like he made it," said Rodriguez. "His father was yelling out his name. It was pretty bad," as reported by CNN. The Glendale Police Department is urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.
