Phoenix Police Hunt Suspects After 18-Year-Old Shot at Halloween Party
Investigators released video of an attack near 37th Avenue and Behrend Drive and are asking residents to call 480-WITNESS with information.
By Ana Castro ·
Halloween parties in the Phoenix Valley have been a site of recurring violence this year. Phoenix police are now investigating a third such incident.
Officers responded to a report of a fight at a residence near 37th Avenue and Behrend Drive at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 1. The location is south of the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway. Detectives are currently seeking the public's help to identify multiple suspects involved in the altercation.
Police released surveillance footage showing several individuals attacking an 18-year-old victim at the party. According to the department, an unknown person who may have been part of the group fired shots during an argument outside the home roughly 10 to 15 minutes after the video was recorded. An 18-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
This event follows two other violent incidents at Halloween gatherings earlier in the year. In one case, police are looking for a suspect who allegedly threw a car part into a bonfire near Lake Pleasant. The resulting explosion seriously injured 16-year-old Jaidynn Penberthy of Peoria. A GoFundMe campaign was established to cover her medical costs.
In another incident, gunfire erupted at a party near 15th Avenue and Fillmore Street in central Phoenix. That shooting killed 18-year-old Jose Juan Vargas Hernandez. Police have asked the public to assist in identifying the individuals involved in that case as well.
For the latest investigation, detectives are asking anyone with information to call the Phoenix Police Department or submit a tip through the Silent Witness online portal. Residents can also call 480-WITNESS, or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish speakers. The media case number for the incident is 2026-4605.
