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2022 Phoenix shooting

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2022 Phoenix shooting
Williams, as seen exiting the motel moments before opening fire.
LocationDeer Valley, Phoenix, Arizona
DateAugust 28, 2022
8:28 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. (MDT)
TargetCivilians
Attack type
Mass shooting, Murder-Suicide
WeaponsAR-15 style rifle, Molotov cocktail, stun grenades (unused)
Deaths3 (including the perpetrator)
Injured5
PerpetratorIsaiah Williams

On August 28, 2022, a mass shooting took place outside of a Days Inn motel in Phoenix, Arizona. Twenty-four-year-old Isaiah Steven Williams, heavily armed with a rifle, Molotov cocktails, stun grenades, and other tactical gear, shot at random people and cars, killing two people and wounding five others, including two police officers. Williams committed suicide after a shootout with law enforcement.

Shooting

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At around 8:25 p.m., Williams was observed on closed-circuit television cameras leaving a Days Inn Motel room that he had booked wearing a tactical vest, riot helmet and gas mask.[1][2] He was also carrying a semi-automatic AR-15–style rifle and Molotov cocktail, both of which would later be used in the attack.[3][4] At 8:28 p.m., Williams was observed exiting the lobby of the motel, and immediately began to open fire on vehicles and buildings in his vicinity.[5][6][7]

Williams, seen walking along the side of a building with a rifle in hand. At this point in the shooting, he had already killed two and wounded three others.

Seconds after shooting at random, a white car pulls into the motel parking lot and parks. Williams approached the vehicle, which had five occupants, and began systematically shooting through the windows, killing the driver and one other person. The three other occupants ran off, and were uninjured in the shooting.[5][8][9]

After shooting at the car, Williams stepped back and continued to walk around the parking lot, shooting at vehicles and other structures at random. Williams discharged at least 12 rounds from his rifle during this phase of the shooting, which was also caught on video. Williams then walked towards an occupied restaurant and lit the Molotov cocktail before throwing it at one of the restaurant's windows,[10] although the window did not break. After the Molotov cocktail failed to explode, Williams encountered multiple bystanders who were observing the shooting, but he did not let off any shots.[5][11][12]

Williams continued to walk around the parking lot for several minutes, firing several shots, many of which hit observers of the shooting. Police arrived at the scene of the shooting at around the same time, and were immediately hit with gunfire when they stepped out of their patrol vehicle. Both officers in the vehicle were injured, but none of the injuries were fatal.[3][13] One of the officers shot at Williams, although he was not hit.[5][14][15]

A short time later, the gunfire ceased, and police walked up to Williams, who had killed himself with the rifle he used to carry out the shooting with.[16] During a later investigation, it was revealed that Williams also had several stun grenades in his possession, which were unused in the shooting.[5][17] It was also revealed that the assailant discharged his rifle nearly 200 times during the skirmish.[18]

Aftermath

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Williams firing his rifle at random cars in the parking lot.

Victims

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Williams killed two people; they were identified as Karla Garzona and Misael Arévalo, both of whom were inside of a vehicle that Williams shot into.[19][20] Five others, including three civilians and two police officers, were wounded by gunfire. One of the officers was shot in the shoulder, while the second was hit by shrapnel "in several places."[12] The officer who was shot in the shoulder was sent to a hospital, while the three civilians were released without needed extensive medical treatment.[19]

Investigation

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In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Phoenix Police Department investigated Williams' motive. An internal investigation determining the legality of the officers' actions was carried out by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, although the results of the investigation have not been made public.[5][21]

Perpetrator

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The Phoenix Police Department identified the shooter as Isaiah Steven Williams, who was 24 at the time of the shooting.[12] Williams had graduated with a film studies degree from the Arizona State University prior the shooting, but was struggling to find a job.[21][22] Although Williams had once expressed interest in becoming a police officer or soldier, he began posting anti-police and anti-government messages on several social media platforms in 2020, calling both systems "corrupt."[22] In April 2022, Williams' parents, concerned that he might harm himself, confiscated multiple weapons from him, including an AR-15–style rifle and a handgun.[22] Several weeks before the shooting, Williams sold his car; and on the day of the shooting, he had expressed to a friend his desire to fight for the Kurdish forces in Iraq because "he wanted to fight for something." In those text messages, Williams has also recommended a book called The Destruction of Black Civilization.[21][22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Shooting outside hotel marks fifth ambush-style shooting in Phoenix this year. August 30, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via www.wbrc.com.
  2. ^ Monroe, Michelle (August 30, 2022). "2 die, 5 injured in Phoenix shooting rampage". Albuquerque Journal (Accessed via Newspapers.com). Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Staff, AZFamily Digital News; staff, Gray News (August 29, 2022). "3 people dead in shooting, including suspect; 2 Phoenix police officers hurt". WLOX. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Massie, Graeme. "Gunman in tactical gear kills two people and wounds five in Phoenix shooting". Independent. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Critical Incident Briefing: August 28th, 2022 – 2600 W Deer Valley Rd". www.phoenix.gov. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  6. ^ "Two civilians killed, two Phoenix officers injured in shooting near 27th Avenue and Deer Valley Road". ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV). August 29, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  7. ^ "Guest describes terrifying moments surrounding mass shooting at Phoenix hotel". KTVZ (CNN Regional). September 1, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  8. ^ "Guest describes terrifying moments surrounding mass shooting at Phoenix hotel". KION546 (CNN Regional). September 1, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  9. ^ Garcia, Nicole (September 15, 2022). "New reports reveal background of north Phoenix mass shooting suspect". FOX 10 Phoenix. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  10. ^ "A gunman clad in tactical gear and armed with a semi-automatic rifle killed 2 and injured 5 others in Phoenix shooting, police say". CNN. August 29, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  11. ^ "2 die, 5 injured in Phoenix shooting rampage; suspect dead". AP News. August 29, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "Phoenix police share chilling video from shooting rampage". AP News. September 9, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  13. ^ "US: Police response to Aug. 28 shooting continues in north Phoenix, Ariz., early Aug. 29 /update 1". US: Police response to Aug. 28 shooting continues in north Phoenix, Ariz., early Aug. 29 /update 1 | Crisis24. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Sarbak, Marissa (August 28, 2022). "Security footage, 911 call: Phoenix Police release video of mass shooter before he takes his own life". FOX 10 Phoenix. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  15. ^ Reporter, ADI Staff (September 10, 2022). "Phoenix Police Release Video Of Shooting That Left 3 Dead, 2 Officers Hurt". Arizona Daily Independent. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  16. ^ "Video shows gunman fire dozens of rounds in fatal Phoenix rampage". NBC News. September 10, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  17. ^ "Video shows suspect's fatal rampage that wounded 2 Phoenix officers". Police1. September 14, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  18. ^ Writer, Allison Brown, Foothills Focus Staff (September 14, 2022). "Police release shooting video, audio". The Foothills Focus. Retrieved October 16, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ a b "Victims in Phoenix shooting rampage identified". 12news.com. August 28, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  20. ^ Vandell, Perry (September 2, 2022). "Victims' names released in shooting that killed 3, injured 5". The Arizona Republic (Accessed via Newspapers.com). pp. A20. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Bradley, Ben; AZFamily Digital News Staff (September 13, 2022). "Report: Gunman involved in shootout with police had been affected by recent events". AZ Family. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c d "Why did he do it? Report highlights Phoenix rampage shooter's motive". 12news.com. September 12, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
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