The tragic events that unfolded at a Tempe Little Caesars on December 1 have left the community reeling after a shooting claimed the lives of two employees, one of whom was the estranged wife of the shooter, Benjamin Visser Jr. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, Visser, 27, is charged with premeditated murder in the deaths of Mary Visser, 21, and her co-worker, Shaquille Simmons, 32. The incident occurred near Guadalupe and Rural roads around 9 a.m.
Officials said Officers heard shots while being in the area of Rural Rd. and Guadalupe Rd., leading to the immediate detention of Visser, who was found with a gun in his hand at the scene. The victims were transported to the hospital in critical condition but succumbed to their injuries—a deeply felt loss amplified by the alleged motive, a husband's jealousy and a perceived affair, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. Simmons' family denies any romantic involvement between the victims.
The families of the deceased are now speaking out. "Sad that someone could do that over assumptions, not having facts or proof or anything, and just being so jealous," Simmons' brother Lerron told FOX 10 Phoenix. His father, Tim, added that Shaquille was simply at work, his presence there tragically leading to his murder. A GoFundMe has been established to assist with the financial burden of funeral costs for Simmons, as reported by AZ Central.
It was while not appearing in court, concerns were raised by his counsel that Visser Jr. might harm himself. They cited an escalating history of domestic violence before the shooting in their statement. Visser Jr. is currently held on a $2 million cash bond. As the community grieves, Little Caesars expressed their heartbreak over the incident, and they are providing support to all those affected in addition to cooperating with law enforcement, as FOX 10 Phoenix detailed.
