New sketch released of Phoenix 'serial street shooter'

The Phoenix Police Department on Thursday released a new sketch of the shooter in the serial street shootings.

The new sketch, which shows the shooter from the front, was created after investigators developed new information. A previous sketch showing a side view was released earlier this week.

Information about a possible vehicle used in the shootings was being reviewed and would be released if it could be proven accurate and useful, according to Sgt. Jonathan Howard, Phoenix police spokesman.

"Please remember though, that the suspect vehicle description has varied from a light-colored sedan to a dark-colored sedan, so additional descriptors may not help someone identify suspicious activity," Howard said in a statement.

Police have raised the reward to $30,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

Thus far, six victims have been killed in the Maryvale community, in an area between 55th and 67th avenues and Campbell Avenue and McDowell Road. A seventh victim in east Phoenix and three other shootings were linked to the shooter at a Tuesday news conference.

New findings from Tuesday

A seventh victim was linked to the shooter in the 500 block of North 32nd Street. The body of Krystal Annette White, 55, was found at her home address around 4:30 a.m. on April 19.

Police also believe that three additional shootings were linked to the gunman:

• On March 17, at about 11:30 p.m., a 16-year-old boy suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being shot while walking down the street on the 1100 block of East Moreland Street.
• On March 18, at about 11:30 p.m., a 21-year-old man received non-life-threatening injuries after being shot while standing outside of his vehicle on the 4300 block of North 73rd Avenue.
• On June 12, at about 2:35 a.m., an unoccupied vehicle was discovered shot in the 6200 block of West Mariposa Drive. The shooting was within 6 miles and less than an hour from when Stefanie Ellis, her daughter Maleah, and friend Angela Linner were gunned down in a car in Ellis’ driveway.

Six victims from the Maryvale 

Six deaths were recorded after shootings April 1-June 12 in the Maryvale area of west Phoenix. Five of these deaths occurred in a 10-day period. The shooter in each case opened fire from a car, on a weekday night, in front of a home in this particular neighborhood, police said.

• Diego Verdugo-Sanchez, 21, who was shot and killed at about 9 p.m. April 1 outside a home in the 5500 block of West Turney Avenue.
• Horacio De Jesus Pena, 32, who was shot and killed at about 9:50 p.m. June 3 while standing outside a home in the 6700 block of West Flower Street.
• Manuel Castro Garcia, 19, who was fatally shot at about 9:30 p.m. June 10 in the 6500 block of West Coronado Road.
• Angela Linner, 31, who was shot and killed at about 3 a.m. June 12 outside a home in the 6300 block of West Berkeley Road. 
• Stefanie Ellis, 33, was shot while listening to music in her car with her daughter and best friend, Linner, in the driveway about 3 a.m. June 12. She died of her injuries July 7.
• Maleah Ellis, 12, the daughter of Stefanie Ellis, who also was shot and killed at about 3 a.m. June 12 outside the same home.

Authorities from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have joined the investigation, according to police.

Those with information are encouraged to contact the Phoenix Police Department or Silent Witness at 480-W-I-T-N-E-S-S, or toll free at 800-343-TIPS.