ARIZONA

Holbrook shooting suspect, victims involved in custody battle

Claire M Roney
The Republic | azcentral.com
Two women were killed in a shooting at the Navajo County Superior Court in Holbrook on June 28, 2016.

A Snowflake man embroiled in a custody battle was in custody after two women were killed and a third woman injured in a shooting Tuesday outside Navajo County Superior Court in Holbrook.

Salomon Diaz, 47, was held on suspicion of two counts of second-degree murder and one count aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to a statement from Adam Wolfe, Navajo County spokesman.

Ashley Utley, 25, and Sherry Quintero-Davenport, 45, the mother and maternal grandmother of the children involved in the custody hearing, were killed, Wolfe said. Angela Chambers, 68, the children’s aunt, was injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.

Roberts: Mother and grandmother killed in custody dispute

Diaz was identified as the paternal grandfather of the children. He had cared for them for an extended period of time, Wolfe said. Department of Child Safety workers took custody of the children after the shooting, Wolfe said.

Salomon Diaz, 47, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of second degree murder and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Diaz and the women had been at court for a hearing, Wolfe said. Gunfire erupted outside the building as the women were leaving Tuesday evening.

Officers from the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, Holbrook Police Department, Show Low Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to the scene within 43 seconds, Wolfe said.

People inside the building were locked down. Officers surrounded the building and swept the complex to check for threats.

The Navajo County Homicide Task Force would continue investigating the shooting, Wolfe said.