In the early morning hours of September 18, 2022, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet of a Phoenix, Arizona neighborhood, tragically ending the life of 21-year-old Francisco Martinez Velasquez. A Hispanic male, Velasquez was found with fatal gunshot wounds alongside 19-year-old Madali Acosta Robles in the back of a residence near 51st Avenue and Thomas Road. Phoenix police officers responded to a call about the shooting at approximately 4 a.m. and discovered the grim scene.
Despite the immediate response from emergency services, both Velasquez and Acosta Robles succumbed to their injuries at the location.
The double homicide was part of a violent night across Phoenix, with two other separate shooting incidents resulting in two additional fatalities. This series of violent events prompted a widespread investigation by the Phoenix Police Department. Detectives began the arduous task of piecing together the events that led to the deaths of Velasquez and Acosta Robles, working to establish a timeline and uncover a motive for the shooting. The investigation into the young man and woman's deaths became one of several homicide cases being handled by the department from that single night.
In the time that has passed since the deaths of Francisco Martinez Velasquez and Madali Acosta Robles, the investigation has remained active. Authorities have reached out to the public on multiple occasions, appealing for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case. The Phoenix Police Department and programs such as Silent Witness have urged anyone with knowledge of the shooting to come forward, offering anonymity to those who might fear reprisal. To date, no arrests have been announced in connection with the murders, and no suspects have been publicly identified, leaving the case unsolved and a community searching for answers.
