On a tragic day in May 2023, 41-year-old Nicholas Arnstad, a male, lost his life to gun violence in the metropolitan area of Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona. His body was discovered along a canal near 24th and Oak Streets in Phoenix, where he had been fatally shot. The investigation into his death quickly revealed it was not an isolated incident but part of a larger, more horrific series of events.
Detectives learned of other homicides that had occurred in the neighboring city of Mesa with a
suspect of a similar description. The evidence collected from the multiple crime scenes was meticulously examined, ultimately linking the murder of Arnstad to a string of shootings that had terrorized the community. These connected shootings resulted in the deaths of three other individuals: John Swain, 40; Julian Cox, 41; and Stephen Young, 41.
The investigation swiftly led to a suspect, 20-year-old Iren Byers. Mesa Police Department officers located and arrested Byers on a Saturday evening in Mesa. During questioning, Byers confessed to his involvement in the deadly shooting spree, including the murder of Nicholas Arnstad. He was subsequently booked on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder for the violent rampage in both Mesa and Phoenix.
