PAYSON, AZ – A tragic domestic violence incident over the weekend has left a Phoenix family in mourning after a young woman’s life was cut short. The shooting occurred Saturday morning in Payson, where police say 22-year-old Donald Nash fatally shot his girlfriend, 20-year-old Keanna Hawani.
Authorities report a history of domestic violence between the couple. The altercation unfolded in a parking lot near a Denny’s on B Line Highway, transforming the ordinarily calm area into a crime scene. Officers arrived around 10 a.m. to find Hawani with a gunshot wound inside an SUV.
The vehicle also contained Nash, a 1-year-old child, and two other individuals. According to police, an argument erupted during their drive from Phoenix to Payson, culminating in Nash allegedly drawing a gun and shooting Hawani without provocation.
Hawani hailed from the village of Tawa on the Hopi reservation in northeastern Arizona but had recently moved to the valley. Her family describes her as a compassionate and eager learner, sharing memories of her high school graduation just two years ago.
As they gather to grieve, Hawani’s family is left grappling with the loss of a young woman who had her entire life ahead of her. They hope for answers to understand how a dispute could escalate into such violence.
Nash faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, and resisting arrest. He is currently held in Gila County Jail. The investigation continues as the community seeks to comprehend this devastating event.
The family and community are left with unanswered questions, hoping for clarity in the coming weeks as they navigate this painful chapter.