In the early morning hours of August 29, 2022, a violent encounter at a Mesa, Arizona apartment complex resulted in the death of 21-year-old Salvador Morales. The events unfolded at an apartment located near Mesa Drive and McKellips Road, leaving two other men dead and another facing a lengthy prison sentence.
Inside one of the apartments, for reasons that remain unclear, Salvador Morales opened fire, fatally shooting two men: 21-year-old Micah Shush-Yaazh Silversmith and his 25-year-old
uncle, Greyhawk Silversmith. In the immediate aftermath, as Morales was in the adjacent parking lot, he was confronted by Victor Silversmith, Micah's 24-year-old brother, who had witnessed the shooting of his brother and uncle. In an act of retaliation, Victor Silversmith shot and killed Morales.
When Mesa police officers arrived at the scene around 2:20 a.m. after receiving reports of shots fired, they discovered Salvador Morales in the parking lot with gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Inside the apartment, they found Greyhawk Silversmith, who was also deceased, and Micah Silversmith, who was suffering from life-threatening injuries. Micah was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries a few days later on September 10, 2022.
Victor Silversmith surrendered to police without incident and was arrested. He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the death of Salvador Morales. Court documents revealed that Victor had recorded the shooting of Morales.
