A random shooting spree in Arizona resulted in four fatalities and one injured individual.
The 20-year-old suspect, Iren Byers, is currently in police custody, with charges including four instances of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder leveled against him.
Law enforcement apprehended Byers on May 27 following his identification in CCTV footage from the crime scenes taken on the previous two days. Upon his capture, Byers admitted his guilt.
The series of shootings occurred across multiple locations, commencing with one death in Phoenix on Friday, followed by three additional fatalities and one injury in Mesa from late Friday through early Saturday. The injured victim, a woman aged 36, was found at the junction of Main and Stewart Streets in Mesa, suffering serious gunshot wounds, but in stable condition.
Detective Brandi George, acting as a police spokesperson, disclosed that the injured woman is slated for surgical intervention.
Authorities have speculated various motives for Byers’ violent spree, potentially including mental health factors. During his questioning, Byers admitted that he shot the injured woman due to anger provoked during their conversation.
Byers also confessed to fatally shooting a man in Phoenix owing to the victim’s fentanyl use, a substance he detests because of personal experiences. He acknowledged shooting the man in the head and departing the scene on public transportation.
The three murder victims in Mesa, all 41 years old, were discovered in separate locations. Byers gave justifications for each killing, varying from their involvement with drugs to one being an unfamiliar homeless person in the area. He confessed to neglecting to seek medical help for any of his victims.
Through surveillance footage and shell casings that matched a single handgun at most crime scenes, police successfully identified Byers. Post-arrest, Byers also faced a charge of trespassing on railway property. He disclosed the location of the clothing and weapon used in the crimes, which police retrieved from his residence.
Byers is presently being held without bail.
