Somerton police believe 3 shootings Friday are related
Baby, woman hurt by shattered glass among victims
Somerton police and city officials held a press conference Monday to update the public on the status of the investigation into a series of three shootings that happened minutes apart on Friday night, one of which left a woman injured from shattered glass from a windshield struck by gunfire.
Police department spokesperson Sgt. Ed Quintero provided a brief summary of the night of the shootings, saying the same suspect or suspects likely committed all three, and there was a combined total of eight victims in the incidents, including a 2-year-old child.
“We believe that the shootings are all connected,” Quintero said, adding that no suspect or possible vehicle description is available at this time.
Somerton police began receiving reports of shots being fired in several areas of the city at approximately 10 p.m. with officers being dispatched 17 minutes later to the 100 block of East Cano Street to interview a woman whose car had been shot while she was driving in the area.
When officers arrived at the location, they found multiple spent casings in the middle of the street. There were three adult victims in the car at the time, a 19-year-old female, a 47-year-old female and a 20-year-old male. No injuries were reported.
“During this call we received multiple reports of males running through the area, possibly towards La Paloma Refresqueria, in the 100 block of West Eucalyptus Street,” Quintero said. “The subjects were not located.”
Officers were also dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of East Spring Street at 10:19 p.m. in response to a woman reporting that her house had been shot at several times.
“When officers arrived on
scene they determined the house had been shot at least five tines,” Quintero said. “In the house at the time was a 62-year-old male and a 34-year male.”
The third and final shooting was reported at approximately 10:29 p.m. when
a woman called from her residence saying that her vehicle was shot while she had been traveling north on Somerton Avenue, across from Somerton Middle School.
“The victim, the female driver, was injured in her face, neck and arm,” Quintero said. “This was from glass shattering from the bullet impact on the windshield.”
Inside the vehicle was a 35-year-old female, who is the victim, a 15-year-old male, and 2-year-old child.
Quintero added that Somerton police are currently investigating all three shootings and it is not known if they were gangrelated.
City Manager Ian McGaughey also addressed the
media during the press conference, saying that he was confident the investigation is moving in the right direction.
“This is an active, aggressive investigation,” McGaughey said. “The safety of the public is paramount, and we will not rest until the people who are responsible for this incident are brought to justice.”
Anyone with information in regard to any of the incidents is urged to call the Somerton Police Department at 928-627-2011 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.