Boy, 17, killed in Phoenix mall shooting identified

Police identified the person killed Sunday afternoon in a shooting at Desert Sky Mall in west Phoenix as 17-yearold Alejandro Martinez.

Martinez was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to a Monday morning statement from Phoenix police.

The statement did not name the 20year-old man who was critically injured in the shooting but said that he is expected to survive.

The shooting occurred around 12:40 p.m. at a retail kiosk inside the mall at 75th Avenue and Thomas Road, police said. Officers arrived at the scene and found two victims with gunshot wounds.

Investigators learned that, prior to the shooting, there was an argument over merchandise between the two victims and the employee at the kiosk. One of the victims displayed a firearm, and then both were shot, according to police.

The kiosk employee was not shot and was cooperating with the police. Police had said Sunday that both the employee and one of the victims armed themselves during the altercation.

There have been two other shootings at Desert Sky Mall in the past few years. A teenage boy died after being shot at Desert Sky Mall last March, and in 2019, Phoenix police fatally shot a man they said shot two people in the mall’s parking lot.

The investigation is ongoing. Authorities asked for anyone with information to call the Phoenix Police Department, Violent Crimes Bureau at 602-262-6141. To remain anonymous, call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO (480837-8446) for Spanish.