In the early morning hours of February 9, 2020, the body of 21-year-old Charles Greenberg, a White male, was discovered along Summit Road in the vicinity of Central Avenue and Phoenix South Mountain Park. Greenberg had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:20 a.m. Initially, law enforcement faced the challenge of identifying the young man.
To overcome this, a forensic artist with the Phoenix Police Department created 3D images from crime scene photos, highlighting his distinctive tattoos, which included a green and red star on his hand and a Taurus tattoo on his left shoulder.
The public release of these images proved crucial in identifying Greenberg, allowing the investigation to move forward. The case broke open when ballistics from the murder weapon were matched to other shooting incidents. This evidence led investigators to two suspects: J. Money Alfaro and John Christian Gonzales, both 22 years old. The investigation revealed a dispute over firearms. Alfaro, a convicted felon unable to purchase guns legally, had acquired several through Gonzales. Greenberg had been given these guns to sell, but he was never compensated for them.
During police questioning, Gonzales confessed to shooting Greenberg twice as he lay on the ground. Alfaro was also implicated in shooting Greenberg multiple times. An autopsy later confirmed that Greenberg had been shot eight or nine times. Following their arrests, both Alfaro and Gonzales were held on a $1,000,000 cash bond for first-degree murder.
