In the transient world of a Phoenix motel, the life of a young man came to a violent and unresolved end. On March 22, 2016, 22-year-old Leo Lavine, a Black male, was found shot to death in room 103 of the EZ8 Motel located off the I-17 freeway. He had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. The Phoenix Police Department responded to the scene and began a homicide investigation into the troubling circumstances surrounding his death.
In the immediate aftermath of the discovery,
investigators detained two individuals in connection with the shooting. However, the initial promise of a swift resolution faded as a lack of conclusive evidence prevented charges from being filed. Both suspects were subsequently released, leaving the case without a clear path to justice. The investigation was further hampered by a scarcity of eyewitness accounts and forensic evidence at the scene.
With no new leads, the investigation into Leo Lavine's murder eventually went cold. Despite the passage of time, his family, including his sister Themia Cook, has not given up hope. Cook has been a vocal advocate for her brother, actively seeking any information that could lead to a break in the case and bring closure to a family still grappling with their profound loss. The Phoenix Police Department's Cold Case Homicide Unit continues to review the case, hopeful that advancements in technology or a renewed public appeal might one day identify the person responsible for Leo Lavine's untimely death.
