Phoenix police link 7th homicide to 'serial street shooter'

It’s been a month since a serial shooter has opened fire in the Phoenix community of Maryvale, but on Tuesday, police announced that his list of victims — and their investigation area — had grown.

Investigators have linked a seventh homicide, as well as three additional shootings that left two people hurt and a vehicle damaged, to the man they are now publicly referring to as the "serial street shooter."

The Phoenix Police Department says 55-year-old Krystal Annette White was likely the second casualty in a three-month shooting spree that is now tied to incidents between March 17 and June 12. White’s body was discovered about 4:30 a.m. April 19 in the 500 block of North 32nd Street.

The addition of White’s case expands the geographical scope of the investigation considerably. While the suspect was only initially tied to four shootings that killed six people in Maryvale, the addition of White’s case links the shooter to a crime scene clear across town.

Police acknowledged this Tuesday in their first public acknowledgment of the shooter's "serial" status. There is no mention of Maryvale in his new moniker, and a newly released sketch refers to him only as the "serial street shooter."

White’s case does share some similarities to the others: All of the incidents occurred outside of residences, and all during nighttime hours.

“Police are confident that (White's) case is still forensically linked to the other incidents,” said Sgt. Jonathan Howard, a spokesman for the Police Department.

Death toll rises to 7

The addition of White brings the death toll up to seven, days after the sixth victim, 33-year-old Stefanie Ellis, died of injuries stemming from a June 12 shooting.

Police also believe that the gunmant is responsible for three additional shootings that, until Tuesday, were not publicly 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 in 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 in 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 Ellis, her daughter Maleah, and friend Angela Linner were gunned down in a car in Ellis’ driveway.

Prior to Tuesday’s announcements, all of those believed to have been killed by the shooter were targeted within the area between 55th and 67th avenues and Campbell Avenue and McDowell Road in the Maryvale area of west Phoenix. Five of the people were shot within a 10-day period, from June 3-12.

In addition to Stefanie Ellis, the victims include:

• 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. 
• 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. 

Police beefed up their manhunt Tuesday by releasing a sketch of the suspect and raising the reward to $30,000 for information leading to an arrest.

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

Phoenix police say they will continue to reach out to the community and gather information and tips regarding the unsolved crimes. Those with information are encouraged to contact the Phoenix Police Department or Silent Witness.

“Someone out there knows who did this,” said Phoenix Police Chief Joe Yahner. “We need our community to call us or Silent Witness and help us solve these cases, bring justice to these families and victims, and prevent more violence from occurring.”

Police said they are soliciting tips from the public to help them name a suspect. Those with information about the case should contact Silent Witness at 480-W-I-T-N-E-S-S (480-948-6377), or call toll-free at 800-343-TIPS.