Police say a late-night call about a killing led officers to a grim discovery inside a central Phoenix home, where they found the body of an adult man and later arrested a 32-year-old suspect on murder charges.
Just after 9 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to the area near 24th Street and Oak Street after a caller reported that a man had been killed inside a nearby home and that the body was still there. When officers went inside, they found the body of an adult man. Detectives told reporters they believe the victim was killed earlier in the evening during an altercation inside the residence, according to Arizona's Family.
Investigators identified 32-year-old Christopher Ebanks as a suspect. Police say he was found and taken into custody the next day, and booked into jail on charges related to the case, including murder.
What police said
The Phoenix Police Department’s Homicide Unit has taken over the case, with detectives processing the scene and working leads to piece together what happened inside the home. The department’s public updates on major cases are posted through its Phoenix Police Department media advisories as investigations move forward.
Authorities have not released the victim’s name or the official cause of death. Both will remain under wraps until next-of-kin notifications are complete and investigators firm up more details.
Legal next steps
According to Arizona's Family, Ebanks was booked into jail on charges that include murder. Being booked on a charge is an allegation, not a conviction. Prosecutors must still decide on formal charges, and the defendant is entitled to an arraignment and other pretrial hearings.
Any formal charges, bail decisions or court dates will appear in Maricopa County court records and future public advisories.
Police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the Phoenix Police Department. This story will be updated as investigators or court filings provide more details.
