In the Ahwatukee foothills of Phoenix, Arizona, the evening of March 7, 2022, turned tragic for 18-year-old Anthony Covarrubias. Earlier that day, the young man had been communicating with someone on social media. He was later seen leaving his residence carrying a duffle bag, unaware of the fatal encounter that awaited him.
Around 6:25 p.m., Phoenix police responded to a distressing 9-1-1 call reporting gunshots and a man lying in the road in the 4400 block of East Dry Creek Road.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Covarrubias with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead. When his body was found, the duffle bag he had been carrying and his cell phone were missing.
The investigation into the homicide led police to three individuals. More than a month after the incident, on April 21, 2022, Phoenix police arrested 18-year-olds Michael Parham, Tyshon McKenzie, and Alberto Jimenez in connection with the murder. According to court records, one of the suspects admitted to having a verbal altercation with Covarrubias that escalated into the deadly shooting.
All three men faced serious charges, including first-degree murder and armed robbery. Parham’s charges also included possession of a weapon by a prohibited person and narcotic drug possession, while McKenzie was also charged with possession of a weapon by a prohibited person. The arrests brought a measure of progress in a case that had left a family and community seeking answers.
