In the early evening of Tuesday, February 6, 2024, a sequence of events in Somerton, Arizona, led to the untimely death of 18-year-old Iza Granillo. Yuma County Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to the area of Avenue B and County 18th Street around 7:47 PM following reports of a vehicle collision accompanied by the sound of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they discovered a male victim inside a vehicle, suffering from gunshot wounds.
The young man, identified as Iza Granillo, was a resident of Yuma. He was urgently transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Granillo succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
The Yuma County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Bureau promptly took over the case, launching a homicide investigation into the violent encounter. Their inquiries soon led them to identify a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting. On February 15, 2024, investigators located and arrested 21-year-old Maribel Ornelas of Yuma. Ornelas was subsequently booked into the Yuma County Detention Center on charges of 1st Degree Murder and Narcotics Drugs for Sale.
The investigation continued to unfold, revealing the involvement of a second individual. On February 23, 2024, the Yuma County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals, the Yuma Police Department Special Operations Group, and the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force, located and apprehended another suspect. Twenty-one-year-old Craig Menta, also from Yuma, was taken into custody. He faced the same serious charges of 1st Degree Murder and Narcotics Drugs for Sale and was booked into the Yuma County Detention Center. The investigation into the death of Iza Granillo remains ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the circumstances that led to the tragic event.
