In a harrowing incident at a local Little Caesars on Monday morning, two employees were fatally shot. The tragedy played out in Tempe, near the intersection of Rural and Guadalupe roads, shortly after 9 a.m., as FOX 10 Phoenix reported. The victims were identified as Shaquille Simmons, 32, and Mary Visser, 21, who both succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
Benjaman Visser Jr., 27, was arrested on the scene, still holding a gun, and is the primary suspect in the shooting. By the time officers located Visser, tragically, the shots had already been fired, resulting in the two victims being transported in critical condition, only to later lose their fight for life. According to the Tempe Police, the suspect is married to the younger victim, Mary Visser, adding a personal and disquieting layer to the violence that unraveled.
Describing the event, Kennedy Luong, owner of Marvel Nails & Spa located next to the pizza shop, said to Arizona Family, "The gun shoots bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang,” and, “I see one girl fall down." In the aftermath, a witness hiding in a nearby store who called 911 detailed the suspect as calm, even as they saw him fire more rounds when the victims attempted to rise.
While the community grapples with the violence, Tony Olvera, owner of Lady Luck Tattoo Gallery also in the strip mall, conveyed concern about the area's reputation, telling Arizona Family, "It’s really surprising,” and, “I just don’t want it to reflect on us, you know. It’s an isolated thing, so you know, it’s not like this area is a bad area in any way." The little store beside the door shattered in the pizza shop, a grim reminder stood of the morning’s chaos.
The Tempe Police Department has expressed their condolences to the victims and staff of Little Caesars, stating, "The Tempe Police Department extends their sympathies to the victims and the employees of Little Caesars during this difficult time,” in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix. In the same sentiment, they commended the responding officers for their swift action in detaining the suspect. As the investigation continues, Visser has been booked into the Tempe City Jail, while details on what led to the shooting remain under investigation.
In an unrelated incident on the same Monday, Tempe saw another fatal shooting at Tempe Marketplace, where the suspect has yet to be apprehended, signaling a day marked by violence and loss for the community.
