Police arrest man accused of fatally shooting victim near Phoenix library

PHOENIX — A man has been arrested in connection to a murder that took place near a Phoenix library on Sunday, authorities said.

The Phoenix Police Department on Friday identified 35-year-old Ray Martinez as their suspect in a fatal shooting that took place near Central Avenue and Willetta Street, near Burton Barr Central Library.

Officers who responded to the scene around 2 p.m. found the victim, 25-year-old Oscar Maldonado Jr., suffering from gunshot wounds.

Maldonado was critically injured when first responders brought him to a nearby hospital, where he died hours later.

Detectives followed leads over the following days to identify Martinez as the suspect, police said.

After he was arrested and interviewed, Martinez was booked for second-degree murder as well as possessing a weapon as a prohibited possessor.

No further details were made available.

This is an updated version of a story originally published on July 28, 2025.

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