A suspect Ignacio Alvarez has been apprehended in connection with a shooting that occurred at a north Phoenix apartment complex, resulting in the death of a 23-year-old man. The incident took place on July 12, and the Phoenix Police Department has since provided details about the investigation and the arrest made in connection with the case.
Ignacio Alvarez
Ignacio Alvarez On July 12, authorities responded to reports of shots fired near 51st Avenue and Acoma Drive. At the scene, they discovered Sixto Gomez-Zurito, 23, who had sustained gunshot wounds. Gomez-Zurito was immediately transported to a local hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries.Last month, the pastor of an undisclosed church in Phoenix contacted the police after receiving allegations from the parents of a teenage girl who attended the church. The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Matthew Michael Messer, was accused of recording videos of the girl without her consent.
According to the pastor’s account, during a lunch service on August 28, Messer stood behind the girl in line, holding his phone in a position that pointed upwards. When confronted, Messer initially claimed he was searching for something on the ground. However, a witness observed that his phone was recording the girl.Several weeks later, on September 18, Messer was witnessed pressing the record button on his phone and placing it on a step of the family’s van in the church parking lot. The positioning of the phone suggested an intention to capture inappropriate footage underneath the skirts of individuals entering the van.
Admission and Consequences
On September 20, the pastor confronted Messer about the allegations, during which Messer admitted to attempting to obtain “creepshots” of the teenage girl and another woman. He confessed to having “predatory tendencies” in the past. Subsequently, an executive meeting was convened at the church, involving Messer, church elders, and the parents of the teenage girl. The congregation collected evidence against Messer, which was later handed over to the police.
Arrest and Charges
Police detained Ignacio Alvarez, also 23 years old, at the location of the shooting. Alvarez admitted to being involved in the incident, according to law enforcement officials. He was subsequently taken into custody and has been booked into jail on charges of second-degree murder. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing as authorities work to gather more information about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Phoenix Homicide Reporting
The Arizona Republic has been documenting homicides in the early stages of investigation for the month of July. They encourage anyone with information about this incident or any other ongoing investigations to provide tips through their online submission form.
Location and Timing
The shooting took place on July 12 at approximately 6:06 p.m. near the intersection of North 51st Avenue and West Thunderbird Road in Phoenix. The arrest of Ignacio Alvarez in connection with the fatal shooting at the north Phoenix apartment complex brings some progress to the ongoing investigation. The Phoenix Police Department continues its efforts to gather evidence and determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.