Justin D. “Clazzy” Finch, a 32-year-old Black / African American male from Phoenix, was found fatally shot inside his apartment in the early morning hours of January 8, 2023. Around 4:45 a.m., Phoenix police were dispatched to an apartment complex near Interstate 17 and Camelback Road, in the area of Campbell Avenue and the Black Canyon Highway, after a report of an injured person.
Officers discovered Finch inside his unit with at least one gunshot wound, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives treated the death as the result of a criminal act and began processing the apartment for evidence while homicide investigators took over the case.
Subsequent summaries from victim-advocacy and case-tracking sites describe how his life “was tragically cut short” inside his Phoenix home, emphasizing that the shooting took place in the pre-dawn hours and that police believed from the outset that foul play was involved. These case profiles list his full name, confirm his residence in Phoenix, and record his date of death as January 8, 2023. Silent Witness and local news accounts add that officers initially responded to an “injured person” call, only to find Finch already beyond help, and that investigators canvassed the area for leads while appealing to the public for any information that might explain what happened inside the apartment that morning.
Despite the seriousness of the case, authorities reported no immediate arrests. Phoenix police told reporters shortly after the killing that no one was in custody and urged anyone with information to contact either the department or Silent Witness. An unsolved-homicides list compiled later noted that Finch was found deceased in an apartment near 4500 North Black Canyon Access Road and explicitly categorized the case as a homicide with the suspect listed as “unknown,” underscoring that investigators still lacked a publicly identified perpetrator.
In 2024, new public attention was drawn to the case when investigative reporting revealed that Saul Bal—the man accused of killing Phoenix police Officer Zane Coolidge and shooting another officer—was also considered an investigative lead in Finch’s homicide. According to police and media accounts, Bal’s address at the time of the January 8, 2023 killing matched the apartment where Finch was found, and a Phoenix Police spokesperson confirmed in a statement that Bal was an “investigative lead in the case.” However, the same statement emphasized that “no probable cause exists for any suspect at this time,” and that the homicide remained open and active. Bal was arrested and charged in connection with the later shooting of the officers, and had previously been arrested in 2023 on alleged drug possession and criminal trespassing charges that prosecutors ultimately did not pursue, but as of the latest reporting he has not been charged with Finch’s murder, and police continue to ask for tips that could lead to an arrest in the January 2023 killing.
Outside of the investigative details, online memorials paint a picture of Finch as a beloved friend and family member. His obituary and gun-violence memorial page show a vibrant photo often shared in connection with his nickname “Clazzy,” and messages from friends describe him as funny, outspoken, caring, and unforgettable, someone whose presence lit up the lives of those around him. Several longtime friends write about knowing him since adolescence, express deep grief over his sudden loss, and speak of the enduring impact of his personality and spirit. Together, these public records and tributes establish both the basic facts of his death and the continuing reality that, while a potential investigative lead has emerged, Justin D. “Clazzy” Finch’s homicide in Phoenix remains officially unsolved, with no one yet held legally responsible.
