PHOENIX, AZ – A local man is facing first-degree murder charges following a shooting incident that left two people injured in his vehicle in the southern part of Phoenix early Monday, as per law enforcement reports.
The Phoenix police department received a distress call around 2:15 a.m. on Monday about a home invasion in the vicinity of 7th Street and Carter Road, south of Southern Avenue. The caller reported an exchange of gunfire with the intruders who fled the scene during the shooting, police said.
Patrol officers in the area of Central and Southern avenues reported hearing multiple gunshots and spotted a car speeding away from the scene. Despite their efforts to halt the vehicle, it continued its course, finally coming to a stop near 2nd Avenue and Broadway Road.
The driver, later identified as 23-year-old Omar Rivas, attempted to run away from the scene on foot. However, he was captured by the officers and taken into custody. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the police discovered a man and a woman, both suffering from gunshot injuries.
The victims were then rushed to a nearby hospital where the woman, identified as 19-year-old Mia Padilla, succumbed to her injuries. The male victim received medical attention and is expected to recover, according to the police.
Further investigation linked the vehicle to the reported home invasion. The homeowner was questioned and subsequently released pending further investigation. Rivas was charged with multiple felonies, including first-degree murder, as the investigation continues.