In the winter of 2020, a young man's life was cut tragically short in a north Phoenix park. Kolby Treshaun Peterson, a 21-year-old male, was fatally shot on the evening of January 22nd at the Mountain View Park and Community Center near 11th Street and Grovers Avenue. When police officers arrived at the scene around 10:15 p.m., they discovered Peterson with a gunshot wound.
He was quickly transported to a local hospital by Phoenix Fire medics, but tragically, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The initial investigation left police without a clear motive or any immediate suspects. However, over the subsequent three weeks, detectives were able to piece together the events that led to Peterson's untimely death. Their investigation led them to 19-year-old Laverdous Moore Jr., who was taken into custody on February 12th near 7th Street and Bell Road. Moore was subsequently booked into jail on one count of first-degree murder for his involvement in the incident that claimed Peterson's life.
Court documents revealed a complex and ultimately fatal scenario. It is alleged that Moore, along with Peterson and a third individual who has not been named, had orchestrated a plan to commit an armed robbery, with the intention of stealing marijuana from another person at the park. However, the situation took a deadly turn when their intended victim fought back. According to reports, the target of the robbery fatally shot Peterson and then fled the scene. Moore later admitted to authorities his role in the planned robbery. Under Arizona law, an individual can be charged with first-degree murder if an accomplice is killed during the commission of a felony, such as an armed robbery.
