In the early morning hours of May 20, 2022, the life of 25-year-old Colleen Hoopes, a talented and beloved female ballet dancer, was tragically cut short in her Tempe, Arizona home. Authorities responded to a 911 call from her husband, Christopher Hoopes, who claimed he had shot his wife after she startled him in the middle of the night. Upon arrival, police found Colleen with a gunshot wound.
She was rushed to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Christopher Hoopes, who was 36 years old at the time, was arrested in connection with the shooting. He told investigators that he was startled by his wife and subsequently shot her. However, evidence gathered during the investigation led authorities to question his version of events. This included audio from a neighbor's surveillance camera that captured the sound of the gunshots, revealing a pause between the first and subsequent shots.
Ultimately, Christopher Hoopes was charged with second-degree murder and unlawful discharge of a weapon. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. The death of Colleen Hoopes sent shockwaves through the local arts community, where she was remembered as a passionate and dedicated dancer with Ballet Arizona. The organization and her family expressed their profound grief over the loss of a bright and integral member of their family and the ballet world.
