In the late summer of 2022, a tragic series of events unfolded in Mesa, Arizona, leading to the death of 21-year-old Micah Shush-Yaazh Silversmith, a Native American man from Salt River. On August 29th, inside an apartment near Mesa Drive and McKellips Road, a confrontation turned deadly. Salvador Morales, 21, opened fire, fatally wounding Micah and his uncle, 25-year-old Greyhawk Silversmith.
Micah’s older brother, Victor Silversmith, who was 24 at the time, witnessed the shooting.
In a devastating turn of events, Victor then shot and killed Morales in the parking lot of the apartment complex. When police arrived, they found Morales and Greyhawk Silversmith deceased at the scene. Micah was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. He fought for his life for several days before passing away on September 10, 2022.
Following the incident, Victor Silversmith surrendered to the police without incident. He was arrested and ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the death of Salvador Morales. Court documents revealed that Victor had recorded the shooting of Morales to show his brother what he had done. Despite letters from family members pleading for leniency, Victor was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his actions on that tragic day.
