On the evening of February 23, 2022, a tragic and senseless act of violence cut short the life of 30-year-old Guadalupe Estevan Zamora in Glendale, Arizona. Zamora was seated on the outdoor patio of an El Pollo Loco restaurant near 43rd Avenue and Bethany Home Road, enjoying a meal with acquaintances. The ordinary evening took a horrific turn when two individuals approached with the intent to rob him.
The assailants, later identified as 18-year-old Marzeal Lewis and a 16-year-old male,
confronted Zamora in what quickly escalated into a fatal encounter. During the attempted robbery, Lewis struck Zamora with a firearm. The impact caused the weapon to discharge. In the ensuing chaos, the 16-year-old accomplice fired his own gun multiple times, striking Zamora twice. The suspects then fled the scene, leaving Zamora gravely wounded. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into Zamora's death moved swiftly. Thanks to witness information, Glendale police were able to locate the suspects at an apartment complex the very next day. During the incident, Lewis had sustained a gunshot wound to his foot. Both he and the 16-year-old were taken into custody and subsequently faced charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery. When questioned, Lewis reportedly told investigators that the catalyst for the deadly confrontation was his feeling that Zamora had looked at him with a 'sign of disrespect.'
