A late-night shooting inside a north Phoenix apartment has left a 50-year-old father dead and his 28-year-old son sitting in a Maricopa County jail cell, facing a second-degree murder charge, according to police and court records.
Phoenix officers were called shortly after midnight on May 12 to an apartment near Interstate 17 and Dove Valley Road, where they found 50-year-old Joseph Elmer Peixotto with a gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead. Investigators say the suspect, identified as his son, 28-year-old Joseph Gabriel Peixotto, was arrested at the scene and booked into the Maricopa County jail.
What Police Released
Around 12:38 a.m. on May 12, officers responded to reports of gunfire at the north Phoenix unit, contained the area and ordered the occupants out before taking a man into custody, according to the Phoenix Police Department. When detectives entered the apartment, they found the victim inside, and Phoenix Fire personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
The department’s media advisory identifies the two men as father and son and states that homicide detectives were called in to process the scene and begin the investigation.
Roommate, Evidence And Charges
According to court documents and local reporting, a roommate called 911 and can be heard telling the dispatcher that the son said his father “was going to assault him,” AZFamily reports. Investigators recovered a black semi-automatic pistol and two shell casings inside the apartment.
Local outlets report that Joseph Gabriel Peixotto was booked on one count of second-degree murder and is being held on a $1,000,000 bond. According to those reports, he refused to speak with investigators and requested an attorney, and police say the investigation remains active.
What Happens Next
Maricopa County prosecutors will decide whether to formally file charges beyond the initial booking, and no court date had been posted at the time of reporting. The suspect remains in custody while homicide detectives continue to gather evidence, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Phoenix Police Homicide Unit, according to the department’s advisory.
