Phoenix man sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing girlfriend

PHOENIX — A Phoenix man has been sentenced to prison for brutally killing his girlfriend in 2018.

Luis Madrigal, 28, was sentenced to 20 years after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for killing 27-year-old Monique-Antwane Gemino with a tire iron in July of last year, authorities said Friday.

“Today’s sentencing can do no more than express our outrage as a community at the senseless loss of a young mother and the void left for her child,” Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said in a press release.

On July 7, 2018, Madrigal went to Gemino’s place of work to retrieve some items from her car. Madrigal then confronted the victim on his suspicion that she was dating another man.

The conversation escalated between the two, who have a child together, before Madrigal took out a tire iron from the vehicle, attacking Gemino.

Madrigal then asked a witness to call 911, stating he had attacked Gemino.

Madrigal also keyed Gemino’s car with the word “cheater.” According to police, Madrigal did it so authorities knew why he attacked her.

Firefighters and officers provided aid, but she succumbed to her injuries.

Officers used a shotgun to fire five stun-bag rounds to force the surrender of Madrigal, who was holding the tire iron and not complying with officer’s orders.

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