MESA, AZ – A chaotic scene unfolded in an East Valley neighborhood when a shootout erupted, involving a 13-year-old boy who allegedly initiated the incident by robbing an adult at gunpoint. The teenager, whose actions led to gunfire across two apartment complexes, was later shot in the leg.
Residents of the affected neighborhood were left in shock, as bullets pierced homes and disrupted the peace of a typical evening. One family, the Castanons, recounted their terrifying experience. Alfredo, 13, was folding laundry with his mother when what he initially thought were fireworks turned out to be gunshots.
Alfredo’s mother quickly pushed him to the ground as debris flew across their home. Meanwhile, his sister Arisa, 15, narrowly escaped a bullet that passed by her while she was in another room. “I’m still shaking just thinking about it,” she said, reflecting on how close they came to tragedy.
The gunfire, according to Mesa police, originated from a confrontation between 20-year-old Brandon Major and the teenage suspect. Major had arranged to purchase a ring through an online marketplace, but the meeting turned into an armed robbery when the boy pointed a gun at him.
Major, also armed, fired shots as the teenager fled, leading to an exchange of gunfire that struck multiple residences. Both individuals were eventually apprehended, with Major facing charges of aggravated assault and endangerment, while the teen was charged with aggravated assault, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm by a minor.
The incident has raised questions about how a 13-year-old obtained a gun and has left the Castanon family feeling unsafe in their home. “It’s just crazy to me,” Arisa commented. “How does someone my brother’s age get a gun?”
OfferUp, the platform used for the ill-fated transaction, stated that users must be at least 16 years old and expressed their cooperation with law enforcement. Authorities urge individuals engaging in online transactions to meet in public places, like police department parking lots, and to avoid carrying large amounts of cash.