In a tragic sequence of events that unfolded in Phoenix, Arizona, a marital dispute escalated into a devastating murder-suicide, claiming the lives of four people, including 12-year-old Baynen Fitz. The young male's life was cut short on December 18, 2023, when he was found deceased in his home from gunshot wounds to the head. Investigations revealed that Baynen was killed by his own father, 53-year-old Bryan Fitz.
The violence did not begin at the family home.
Earlier that day, Bryan Fitz drove to a commercial business near 27th Avenue and Deer Valley Road. There, he shot and killed his estranged wife, 49-year-old Sage Fitz, and a 62-year-old man named Carmen Buscemi. The motive for this brutal act appears to have been a marital dispute. Friends of the family described Bryan Fitz as controlling and jealous, and it is believed he thought his wife was having an affair with Buscemi.
Following the initial double homicide, Bryan Fitz returned to his residence near 23rd Avenue and Utopia Road. It was in this home that he killed his son, Baynen, and the family dog. After ending his son's life, Bryan Fitz turned the gun on himself, dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
When police were alerted to the shootings at the business, witness information led them to the Fitz home. Upon their arrival, they discovered the suspect's vehicle in the driveway. After obtaining a search warrant, officers from the Special Assignments Unit entered the house and found the tragic scene of the murder-suicide. Due to the suspect taking his own life, no arrests were made in connection with the deaths of Baynen Fitz, Sage Fitz, and Carmen Buscemi. The Phoenix Police Department conducted a joint investigation with the Arizona Department of Child Safety.
