Tragedy struck a south Phoenix neighborhood late Tuesday night when a home invasion led to a shootout that left three men dead and two wounded, according to Phoenix police. The incident, which unfolded around 9 p.m. on Sept. 23 near 24th Street and Southern Avenue, began when two men, allegedly armed, entered the residence, prompting a violent exchange of gunfire.
Phoenix Police Department officers, upon arriving at the scene, discovered three men with gunshot wounds who later succumbed to their injuries, while two additional adults were found with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and taken to the hospital, FOX 10 Phoenix reported. As officers were responding, they also encountered a car accident nearby, where one of the injured men had been shot and inside the vehicle, and at the same time another man with a gunshot wound was found outside a nearby Burger King, indicative of the chaotic and expansive nature of the crime scene.
Police spokesperson Sgt. Lorraine Fernandez clarified that "the two that were located inside the residence that are deceased are the suspects," suggesting that the individual who defended the home may have been responsible for their deaths, as detailed in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix. A third deceased individual was found in a nearby alley, suspected of having been inside the home during the invasion and trying to escape.
Details about the suspects and whether they had any relationship with the victims remain unclear, however, a man inside the home is reported to have shot one of the intruders after which he heard a relative yelling for help; then he came out and shot a second man, according to a media advisory by Sgt. Fernandez. Furthermore, one of the people who was shot ran from the area, got a ride in a passing car, which then became involved in the collision, adding another layer to the complex aftermath of the shootout.
The police have stated that detectives are actively working this complex investigation, and encourage anyone with information on the shooting to reach out to Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish speakers.
