Man sentenced to 19 years for violent crimes against homeless in Phoenix park

PHOENIX — A man who violently attacked homeless people living at a Phoenix park was sentenced to 19 years in prison, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) announced Saturday.

Isaiah Adams, now 26, was on pretrial release for drug-related crimes when he attacked a homeless man who was asleep at a bus stop near La Pradera Park at 39th and Glendale avenues in June 2024.

Adams woke the man by kicking him in the face and ribs then shot him in the back as he was trying to escape, according to MCAO. The victim was left permanently paralyzed.

Less than a week and a half later, Adams was involved in another fight with a homeless person. Adams fired at least nine shots and struck the victim’s foot.

He was arrested 10 days after the second attack while he was driving a stolen vehicle with illegal drugs in his possession.

“(Adams) didn’t just commit random acts of violence, he deliberately targeted the most vulnerable people in our community,” County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a release. “He shot, paralyzed and terrorized individuals who were simply trying to survive. This kind of cruelty is beyond cowardly, and it has no place in Maricopa County.”

He pleaded guilty to four felonies, including armed robbery, aggravated assault and two drug-related crimes.

After serving the 19 years in prison, Adams will be under supervised parole for four years.

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