In the early morning hours of June 18, 2023, a small house party in Gilbert, Arizona, turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 18-year-old Jacob 'JJ' Levi Carlson. An altercation broke out in the backyard of the residence located in the 100 block of West Moore Avenue, culminating in a fatal shooting. When Gilbert Police Department officers arrived at approximately 12:06 AM, they discovered Carlson with gunshot wounds to his chest and upper torso.
Despite immediate life-saving efforts by the officers, Carlson was transported to a local hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Jacob Carlson was an Asian male.
The investigation into the shooting led Gilbert police to a suspect the following day. On June 19, 2023, authorities arrested 17-year-old Zachariah Brandon Ezell in connection with the fatal shooting. Ezell, an African-American teenager, was initially booked as a juvenile. However, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office later chose to charge him as an adult.
Zachariah Ezell faces a series of serious charges, including First Degree Premeditated Murder. The additional charges filed against him are Burglary in the 1st Degree, Minor Carrying a Firearm, Disorderly Conduct, and Endangerment. While a motive for the shooting has not been publicly released, authorities have described the event as an isolated incident. Friends and community members remembered Jacob Carlson as a joyful individual who brought laughter to those who knew him.
