Phoenix has closed a somber chapter with the sentencing of 25-year-old Aaron Ware, who was convicted in a series of shootings that included an attempt on the life of a police detective. Maricopa County officials handed down a life sentence to Ware, plus an additional 58 years, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix on October 14th. The county attorney emphasized the gravity of his crimes, insisting on a punishment that echoed the community's need for safety and closure.
The case stemmed from a June 2022 ambush, where Ware and accomplice Ahmani Gordon attacked the undercover detective while she was conducting surveillance. According to AZ Family, Ware and Gordon fired 19 rounds at the detective, who was only able to protect herself and call for help. The attack was part of a wider spree of violence that included four other shootings, leaving three people injured earlier in the month.
Ware's convictions cover a litany of felony charges, ranging from aggravated assault to discharging a firearm at a structure. His co-defendant, Gordon, was sentenced to 15 years after pleading guilty to aggravated assault. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell stated, "This sentence is justice not only for the victims, but for every person in Maricopa County who deserves to live without fear of violence in their neighborhood," in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix.
"This was not an accident; this was an assault on the very foundation of public safety," Executive Assistant Phoenix Police Chief Dennis Orender told AZ Family. Genuine in his condemnation of the crime, Orender expressed a hope for the court to impose a sentence that serves as both a recognition of the harm done and a deterrent against future violence against those committed to protect the community.
