In what should have been a peaceful Sunday afternoon in a west Phoenix senior living community, tragedy struck, leaving residents in shock and mourning. Michelle Marie Semenjuk, a 63-year-old woman, was fatally shot on October 26, 2025, inside her apartment near 43rd Avenue and Thomas Road. Neighbors, who described the area as typically quiet, remembered Semenjuk as a kind individual known for her skill in repairing electric bikes and scooters.
Phoenix police responded to reports of a
shooting at the apartment complex around 4:41 p.m. Upon arrival, they found Semenjuk with at least one gunshot wound. She was rushed to a nearby hospital in extremely critical condition but succumbed to her injuries. The community was placed on a temporary lockdown as police began their investigation, a jarring experience for the residents of the usually serene complex.
The investigation quickly pointed to a suspect, 58-year-old Salvador Najera Jr. A witness reported seeing a man, later identified as Najera, walking away from Semenjuk's apartment immediately after the sound of gunfire. A crucial piece of information came to light when it was discovered that Najera had called family members and admitted to shooting someone before fleeing the scene in his vehicle. This admission, coupled with the witness account, provided police with the probable cause needed for his arrest.
Salvador Najera Jr. was located and taken into custody. During an interview with detectives at Phoenix Police Headquarters, he confessed to shooting Michelle Marie Semenjuk. He also admitted to being a 'prohibited possessor,' meaning he was not legally allowed to own a firearm. Najera was subsequently booked on charges of murder and misconduct involving weapons. While an arrest has been made, the motive behind the shooting and the nature of the relationship, if any, between Najera and Semenjuk remain under investigation, leaving a community searching for answers in the wake of a senseless act of violence.
