In the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 28, 2022, Goodyear police responded to a call about an unresponsive person at a residence near 167th and Hilton avenues. Upon arrival, they discovered 50-year-old Luis Rene Duarte deceased at the scene from a gunshot wound to his chest. The incident followed an earlier visit by officers to the same home for a verbal family argument.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a domestic dispute. Authorities identified 48-year-old Dulcenia Edwards of Surprise as the suspect. Edwards, described as Duarte's ex-girlfriend with whom he shared at least one child, was located and apprehended by police on the day of the shooting. One of Edwards' daughters reportedly informed investigators that her mother had called her and confessed to shooting Duarte.
Dulcenia Edwards was subsequently booked into the Maricopa County Jail, facing a charge of second-degree murder. Her bond was set at $1 million. While early reports suggested Edwards claimed the shooting was in self-defense, she declined to provide further information or answer questions regarding the event. The investigation pointed to the shooting possibly being the result of a domestic dispute.
