Police: 5 west Phoenix homicides likely connected

The victims were sitting in their car, listening to music; just arriving home from work; or stepping outside to lock the car door.

The moments before each of the six victims was gunned down were unremarkable, but a familiar pattern began to form: All had been murdered or critically injured outside Maryvale homes, in or near cars, on a weekend night, and for reasons still unknown to police.

On Tuesday afternoon, Phoenix police made the connection official: They believe the four shooting incidents can be tied to the same shooter or shooters.

The victims — three men, two women and a 12-year-old girl — were targeted between April 1 and June 12 in an area less than 4 square miles. Only the girl’s mother survived; she is in critical condition.

Concerns about the slayings rippled through the Phoenix neighborhood Tuesday, prompting the Valley's Silent Witness to bump up its reward and city officials to issue statements urging the public to help.

"We are asking residents to work with our police officers to protect their neighborhoods and solve these crimes,” said Mayor Greg Stanton, as part of a joint statement with City Council members Daniel Valenzuela, Laura Pastor and Michael Nowakowski and Vice Mayor Kate Gallego. “It’s important to always be vigilant and if you see something, say something."

Sgt. Jonathan Howard, a Phoenix police spokesman, said it's unclear whether any of the victims knew each other or if any of them had common connections.

"We're still working to determine if there are any pre-existing relationships, but we have not found any at this point," he said.

The department has not released any information on the type of firearm used in the crimes.

The victims include:

Diego Verdugo-Sanchez, 21: Shot and killed at 9 p.m. April 1 outside a home in the 5500 block of West Turney Avenue.

Horacio De Jesus Peña, 32: Shot and killed at 9:50 p.m. June 3 while standing outside a home in the 6700 block of West Flower Street.

Manuel Castro Garcia, 19: Shot and killed at 9:30 p.m. June 10  while standing in the 6500 block of West Coronado Road.

Angela Linner, 31, and Maleah Ellis, 12: Both shot and killed at 3 a.m. June 12 outside a home in the 6300 block of West Berkeley Road. Maleah's mother, 33, was critically injured.

Reminders of the victims lingered outside the Maryvale homes Tuesday afternoon, some through handmade memorials in the front yard, others in bullet holes.

Three shootings, three victims

Verdugo-Sanchez is believed to be the first shooting victim. He and his then-pregnant fiance, Marina Smith, were visiting her parents April 1 for a taco dinner and to borrow a hose to wash his car.

Right before the family was about to eat, Verdugo-Sanchez said he was going to run outside the house to lock his car.

“Probably not even 2 seconds he was outside, and we just heard the four gunshots,” Smith said. “At first I didn’t know what it was until I seen my mom run out the door.”

Holly Bonilla-Garcia, Smith’s mother, said she was the first on the scene, but it was too dark to get a good look at the car.

“I didn’t see Diego standing, so I knew he was on the ground,” she said, standing on her front porch Tuesday evening. “I didn’t have my phone. So I ran over there, I saw him on the ground, and I screamed.”

It would be two months before what is believed to be the second shooting, on June 3. Horacio De Jesus Peña’s sister said her brother was just getting home from work when he was shot outside his car.

Castro Garcia was standing outside a Maryvale home seven days later when he, too, was gunned down.

Fourth shooting kills two, injures one

More than one gunman took part in at least one of the shootings, according to witnesses. Three men opened fire on a car in a driveway where 12-year-old Maleah, her mother and mother's friend had been listening to music early June 12, as they often did.

Maleah took seven bullets, including one to the neck, her grandfather said. Dossie Ellis Sr. didn't know how many times his daughter's friend, Linner, had been shot.

Only Maleah's mother survived. She has been in a coma at a Phoenix hospital for more than a week, the elder Ellis said.

"They had gave up on her last Sunday in the hospital because the bullet shot her through the head and come out the other side," he said. "She had 14 bullets in her — 14 bullets. In the stomach, chest, the nose, the chin."

Ellis Sr. doesn't know of anyone who didn't love his daughter, her friend or his "grandbaby." The family had lived there five years without trouble, he said.

"Some random fools, some random cowards," he said of the shooters. "So I want them to get the message loud and clear: I’m still here. They want to come back? Come back."

Police boost patrols, ask for community help

Phoenix police say they have assigned additional investigators and patrol officers to  the neighborhoods, but said community input is "vital" to their success.

Phoenix police are asking for tips from the community. If you have any information regarding this case, contact
Silent Witness at W-I-T-N-E-S-S (480-948-6377), or toll free at 800-343-TIPS.