In the early hours of a chilly December morning in Buckeye, Arizona, the life of 18-year-old Hispanic female Monica Hernandez-Guillen was tragically cut short. On December 28, 2021, at approximately 1 a.m., law enforcement responded to a call of a shooting near Jackrabbit Trail and Yuma Road. Upon their arrival, they discovered Monica deceased at the scene, the victim of a fatal gunshot wound.
At the time of her death, she was about four months pregnant.
The investigation quickly centered on her boyfriend, 24-year-old Johari Baker. He was taken into custody later that same day. According to court records, Baker told investigators from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office that he and Monica had been arguing while he was driving. He alleged that she grabbed the steering wheel, causing him to lose control of the car. After pulling over, Baker claimed a physical struggle over his firearm ensued, during which the weapon discharged, striking and killing Monica. He then fled the scene on foot and went to his parents' home.
After the incident, Baker contacted his mother, telling her there had been an accident involving his girlfriend. His mother drove to the scene but left a short time later. Subsequently, both Baker and his mother went to a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office substation in Avondale to report the shooting. Back at the scene of the crime, deputies found a vehicle with the driver's side door ajar and a firearm resting on the seat. Baker was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and domestic violence, with his bond set at $500,000. Family and friends remembered Monica as a bright and caring young woman who was studying at Northern Arizona University with dreams of becoming a counselor.
