Alleged sex worker, underage boyfriend arrested in connection with fatal Phoenix apartment shooting

A 21-year-old woman and 16-year-old boy were recently arrested in connection with a shooting at a Phoenix apartment complex last month that left 58-year-old Donald Mucheck dead, authorities said.

The Phoenix Police Department identified the woman taken into custody as Teralyn Campopiano. However, they did not release the name of the teen.

Campopiano faces a second-degree murder charge.

What led to the fatal Phoenix apartment shooting?

On July 6, officers were called to an apartment complex near 16th and Colter streets, north of Camelback Road, around 12:40 a.m.

While responding, they were told that Mucheck had what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the torso, according to the probable cause statement. When police arrived at the scene, they found a neighbor performing lifesaving measures on Mucheck. He was then taken by the Phoenix Fire Department to a nearby hospital, where he died.

Court records show that during the investigation, officers discovered Mucheck had called 911 just before 12:20 a.m. to report he was in a verbal argument with a 21-year-old black woman, who he identified as Nicole. He described her as having a thin build and wearing a black and white dress. He told dispatchers that she would not leave and he believed she was trying to rob him.

However, Mucheck later told dispatchers she had left and he no longer needed police, but mentioned her threatening to have someone shoot him.

Investigators looked through Mucheck’s phone and found multiple text conversations with who appeared to be prostitutes as there was mention of sexual acts for money, court documents said.

In a July 5 exchange with Nicole, who police identified through phone records as Campopiano, she agreed to meet with Mucheck that afternoon to do sexual acts for money and he sent an uber to pick her up.

Later that night, despite accusing her of robbing him earlier, Mucheck and Campopiano agreed to meet again with him saying he’ll pay her $100.

Detectives discovered that Campopiano was living at a Metro Phoenix Extended Stay and pulled security footage from the area, which showed Campopiano getting into the uber that Mucheck sent for her with a black male and white female, who authorities identified as Francesca Cruz.

Uber records showed the car arriving at Mucheck’s apartment complex around 12:17 a.m. just minutes before he called 911.

Cameras at the Extended Stay then show Campopiano and the male returning at 1:09 a.m., while Cruz arrived back separately at 1:20 a.m.

Cruz shares shocking details of shooting

On July 21, officers served a search warrant and took Cruz into custody.

While being interviewed, Cruz admitted to knowing that Campopiano was involved in prostitution and said Campopiano asked her to be a lookout on July 5 while she went to see a “customer,” who Cruz believed she was going to rob, according to court records.

Cruz also identified the male who was seen getting in the uber with them as Campopiano’s boyfriend.

She explained to authorities that Campopiano had the uber drop her off at the apartment complex, but asked the driver to drop Cruz and her boyfriend off down the street, where they waited at a restaurant.

Cruz said while at the restaurant, she watched Campopiano exit the apartment and a man follow after her before they began to argue. Cruz exited the restaurant and walked over to them to ask if Campopiano was ok and heard the two arguing about payment.

Shortly after, the boyfriend stepped in and him and Campopiano started to punch the man. Cruz began to walk away and heard one gunshot as she did, but did not know who fired the shot.

Campopiano called the next morning and told Cruz that her boyfriend was scared because he had shot Mucheck. Cruz later heard through acquaintances that the boyfriend had threatened to kill her if she talked.

Campopiano was subsequently arrested on Monday after she exited her room at the Extended Stay. It is not clear when the boyfriend was taken into custody.

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