Arrest made in connection with teen’s shooting death in Avondale

PHOENIX — An arrest was made Friday night in connection with a shooting that left a teen girl dead last week at an apartment in Avondale, authorities said. 

According to the Avondale Police Department, 18-year-old Emilio Andres Rivera was taken into custody at a home in Buckeye around 9:30 p.m.

Rivera faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. He was previously identified as a person of interest in the death of 17-year-old Rhiana Kemplin by police on Wednesday.

Details on the Avondale apartment shooting Rivera was arrested for

Officers were dispatched to an apartment near Rancho Santa Fe Boulevard and McDowell Road for reports of a shooting around 6:27 a.m. on Nov. 8, police said.

When police arrived on scene, they reportedly found Kemplin suffering from a gunshot wound. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she later died from her injuries.

According to police, Rivera was previously in a relationship in Kemplin.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Avondale Police Department at 623-333-7000.

This is an updated version of a story originally published Nov. 12, 2025. 

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