On the night of December 6, 2025, a fatal shooting disturbed the peace of a residential neighborhood in El Mirage, Arizona. Shortly before 11:00 p.m., the El Mirage Police Department received emergency reports of gunfire near the intersection of Dysart and Cactus Roads. Responding officers hurried to the 12900 block of West Laurel Lane, where they discovered the victim lying in the street near a vehicle.
The individual was identified as Rocky Hernandez Soto Sr., a 46-year-old man from nearby Sun City.
Law enforcement personnel attempted to render lifesaving aid to the victim immediately upon their arrival, continuing their efforts until the El Mirage Fire Department reached the scene. Despite the emergency medical intervention, the injuries proved too severe, and he was pronounced dead at the location. Investigators cordoned off the area to collect evidence and document the circumstances surrounding the violent event, noting that the victim had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation into the homicide yielded a suspect almost immediately, as a teenage male at the scene surrendered to authorities without incident. The juvenile was taken into custody and subsequently booked into jail. While police withheld the minor's name due to his age, they publicly confirmed that a familial relationship existed between the suspect and the deceased. Detectives continued to work through the following days to uncover the specific motives and events that led to the tragedy.
