Police arrest suspect of 5 shootings that killed 4, injured 1 in Valley
May 28, 2023, 10:57 AM | Updated: May 30, 2023, 6:02 am
(Iren Byers - Mesa Police Photo)
(Iren Byers - Mesa Police Photo)
PHOENIX — Police in Mesa arrested 20-year-old Iren Byers in connections to the deaths of four men and one injured woman discovered late Friday night and early Saturday morning in five separate shootings.
Byers was arrested on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder.
Officers dispatched to Beverly Park around 10:30 p.m. on Friday and found 41-year-old Julian Cox dead at the scene, according to a press release.
While still at the park, police heard shots being fired nearby and searched the area.
Approximately two hours later, police found 36-year-old Angela Fonseca with injuries near the intersection of Stewart and Main streets.
The woman was taken to a nearby hospital, was in stable condition and will undergo surgery for serious injuries.
Just before 1 a.m. on Saturday, someone called police to report a dead body near the Greyhound station on Country Club Road.
Officers arrived and found 41-year-old Stephen Young deceased at the scene.
Police searched the area and discovered 40-year-old John Swain dead just after 2 a.m. near Extension Road and Main Street.
All four victims suffered from gunshot wounds.
Police also connected Byers to a fifth shooting earlier on Friday in Phoenix near the intersection of 24th and Oak streets.
According to police, shell casings from the shooting scenes were all linked to the same 9mm handgun.
Video surveillance footage from light rail, Circle K and Ring cameras showed Byers wearing the same clothing reported by witnesses at multiple shooting scenes.
Byers was taken into custody for trespassing near the intersection of Extension Road and Main Street. He was cooperative with police, took responsibility for the shooting and told officers where they could find the clothes and gun used in the crimes, according to the release.
Police identified the victim of the Phoenix shooting as 41-year-old Nicholas Arnstad. They are waiting to notify next of kin before releasing names of the other victims.
Anyone who has information about these cases is asked to call (480) 644-2211.
