Phoenix police are looking for a serial killer after a seventh homicide and three other shootings have been linked to a suspect(s) previously on the record for six other shooting deaths.
The series of incidents began in March this year.
The four additional incidents were previously known, but were pending a systematic investigation and review before they could be grouped under the same killer, who has been nicknamed the “serial street shooter.”
The one added murder is the shooting of 55-year-old Krystal Annette White, who was found dead on the side of a Phoenix street on April 19, 2016.
The latest incidents occurred on June 12. The first was the shooting of the group of Stefanie Ellis, daughter Maleah Ellis, and friend Angela Linner outside of the Ellis home in the early hours of the morning. The second was the newly-added shooting of an unoccupied vehicle.
List of Incidents
A full timeline of incidents was included on the City of Phoenix Police Department’s Facebook page. All victims were shot outside near their car or home at night.
- March 17, 2016: At approximately 11:30 p.m., a 16-year-old male was shot while walking in the street in the area of 1100 E. Moreland St. His injuries were not life threatening.
- March 18, 2016: At approximately 11:30 p.m., a 21-year-old male was shot while standing in the street outside of his vehicle in the area of 4300 N. 73rd Av. His injuries were not life threatening.
- April 1, 2016: At approximately 9:00 p.m., Diego Verdugo-Sanchez was shot and killed in front of a home in the area of 5500 W. Turney Ave.
- April 19, 2016: At approximately 4:30 a.m., 55-year-old Krystal Annette White was found deceased from apparent gunshot injuries sustained in the area of 500 N. 32nd St.
- June 3, 2016: At approximately 9:50 p.m., Horacio De Jesus Pena was shot and killed in front of a home in the area of 6700 W. Flower St.
- June 10, 2016: At approximately 9:30 p.m., Manuel Castro Garcia was shot and killed in front of a home in the area of 6500 W. Coronado.
- June 12, 2016: At approximately 2:35 a.m., an unoccupied vehicle was shot and damaged in the area of 6200 W. Mariposa Dr.
- June 12, 2016: At approximately 3:00 a.m., Angela Linner, Maleah Ellis, and Stefanie Ellis were shot and killed in front of a home in the area of 6300 W. Berkeley Rd.
The police department is urging those with information related to the incidents to speak out. There is a $30,000 Silent Witness Reward available.
“Someone out there knows who did this. 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,” said Phoenix Police Chief Joseph Yahner.
Other members of the department are calling on members of the community to stay viligent and stress that no detail is too small to report.
“No fact is too small and no suspicious activity is too slight; if you see something, say something,” said DPS Director Frank Milstead.
