Phoenix, AZ – A local man is facing first-degree murder charges following a double shooting incident in south Phoenix early Monday, according to local law enforcement. The suspect was apprehended after a high-speed chase that ended with two gunshot victims found in his vehicle.
The incident began around 2:15 a.m. when Phoenix police received a report of a residential burglary near 7th Street and Carter Road. The homeowner reported an exchange of gunfire with the suspects, who then fled the scene. Patrol officers in the vicinity of Central and Southern Avenues reported hearing gunshots and spotted a car speeding away from the area.
Officers pursued the vehicle, which eventually came to a halt near 2nd Avenue and Broadway Road. The driver, later identified as 23-year-old Omar Rivas, attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended. Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered a man and a woman, both suffering from gunshot wounds.
The victims were rushed to a local hospital, where the woman, identified as 19-year-old Mia Padilla, succumbed to her injuries. The male victim received treatment and is expected to recover.
Further investigation linked the vehicle to the reported residential burglary. The homeowner was questioned and subsequently released pending further investigation. Rivas now faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder, as the investigation continues.
In a separate incident on Sunday, two individuals were found fatally shot in south Phoenix. The first victim, 32-year-old Hamzah Sirajaldin, was found with multiple gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene. Police are searching for 41-year-old Ernesto Luna, who is suspected of shooting Sirajaldin during a dispute.
Later that morning, officers responded to another shooting near Baseline Road and 16th Street. The victim, 35-year-old Ashley Smith, was transported to a hospital where she later died. No suspects are currently in custody for this incident. Both investigations are ongoing.