In the early hours of a Thursday morning in Phoenix, Arizona, the life of Lori Ann Perez, a 47-year-old woman, was tragically cut short. On April 9, 2026, police responded to reports of shots fired near 107th Avenue and Indian School Road around 12:45 a.m. and discovered Perez inside a car, deceased from at least one gunshot wound.
As the investigation began to unfold, detectives quickly identified a person of interest in the shooting.
Information led them to believe that Lori Ann Perez's 46-year-old boyfriend, Richard Charles, may have been involved in her death. Investigators worked to piece together the events leading up to the fatal shooting, focusing their attention on the victim's relationship with Charles.
Later that same day, the investigation took a grim turn. After securing a search warrant for Richard Charles' residence, a SWAT team was utilized to make entry into the home. As officers moved in, they discovered Charles inside, dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Phoenix Police Department has stated that the investigation into the apparent murder-suicide is ongoing.
