In the early morning hours of January 22, 2023, the life of 15-year-old Brendan Blaze Valenzuela, a Hispanic male, was cut tragically short in Buckeye, Arizona. Brendan was with a group of people in the Westpark community when an altercation broke out. The dispute escalated, and a male suspect produced a handgun, shooting the teenager.
Following the shooting, the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.
Another individual at the scene drove Brendan to a different location near Crown King Road and 257th Drive and called 911 for help. Emergency services arrived and performed life-saving measures before transporting him to a local hospital. Despite their efforts, Brendan Valenzuela succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The Buckeye Police Department launched an investigation into the fatal shooting. Their efforts led to the identification of two suspects who were known to the victim. On February 4, 2023, a 17-year-old male was arrested in connection with the murder following the execution of a search warrant at a home in Buckeye. He was subsequently booked into juvenile detention on suspicion of homicide.
The investigation continued, leading to a second arrest on March 15, 2023. With the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, Buckeye police served a search warrant at a residence in Phoenix and apprehended 19-year-old Michael Michel. Michel was arrested and booked into the Maricopa County jail on multiple charges, including homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and armed robbery. His bond was set at $1 million.
