Tragedy struck at a Little Caesars pizza shop in Tempe when a man allegedly killed his wife and her co-worker in a shooting that has shocked the local community. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, court documents reveal that the suspected shooter, 27-year-old Benjamin Visser Jr., was arrested and is facing two counts of first-degree murder following the incident that occurred on Monday, morning.
Visser's wife, 21-year-old Mary Visser, and her colleague, 32-year-old Shaquille Simmons, were both employees at the pizza establishment where the shooting took place. Surveillance footage indicated that shortly after Simmons approached the front door of the business, Visser and his wife arrived, leading to the shooting. Simmons attempted to flee but was shot again, and Mary Visser was found in the parking lot with gunshot wounds. She reportedly informed officers her husband had shot her before losing consciousness, according to court documents obtained by 12News.
Police stated that upon their immediate arrival, triggered by the sound of gunshots while on a separate call nearby, they found Visser pacing in the parking lot and detained him. During the subsequent interview after being read his Miranda rights, Visser claimed to have "blacked out" and said he did not remember the shooting. He acknowledged having mental illnesses but stated that he had not taken medication since his late teens and had been denied mental health assistance for lacking a drug addiction, as per 12News.
Further complicating the narrative, Visser reportedly caused a disturbance at the Little Caesars the night before the fatal event. The manager of the establishment mentioned prior confrontations, including an instance where Visser accused his wife's co-workers of having affairs with her, "shooed" him away when he became disruptive, as per the 12News report. Other witnesses echoed these concerns, having observed Visser's unsettling behavior of sitting outside the shop, watching his wife’s entire shifts.
Investigators, who reviewed both surveillance and witness testimonials, have stated there is no evidence of a relationship between Mary Visser and Simmons beyond their roles as co-workers. With the preliminary hearing set for December 11, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.
