A Saturday afternoon dispute between two vehicles in south Phoenix erupted into deadly gunfire, leaving one man dead and three others — including two children — fighting for their lives, authorities said.
According to Fox News, the shooting unfolded around 2:45 p.m. in a business parking lot after a confrontation between a sedan and an SUV escalated. Phoenix Police Sgt. Brian Bower said the drivers of both vehicles pulled into the lot as the argument continued.
What began as a verbal dispute quickly turned physical. “The dispute continued in the parking lot and a physical fight ensued,” Bower said during a news conference. Moments after the altercation, shots rang out.
According to police, the suspect — a man driving the sedan — was alone. The SUV carried a man, a woman, and two children. Multiple rounds were fired, striking everyone inside the SUV.
The adult male passenger died at the scene, Bower confirmed. The woman and two children were rushed to the hospital, where they remain in critical condition.
The suspect did not flee. Bower said the man stayed in the parking lot until officers arrived. He was taken to a hospital for treatment before being moved into police custody.
Authorities have not identified the suspect, and no charges have been announced. Detectives continue interviewing him as the investigation moves forward.
Police say they have not ruled out several possible motives, including road rage or self-defense. Early indications suggest the people in the two vehicles did not know each other before the encounter.
The Phoenix Police Department continues to gather evidence and urges anyone with information or eyewitness accounts to come forward as the case develops.
