In the early morning hours of December 20, 2019, tragedy struck in Phoenix, Arizona, ending the promising life of 25-year-old Lance McDowdell, a male defensive lineman for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. McDowdell was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound in the driveway of an apartment complex near 44th Street and Thomas Road. He was quickly transported to a nearby hospital, but tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The news of his violent death sent shockwaves through his family, his team, and the community.
The investigation into McDowdell's death led Phoenix police to identify a suspect, Christopher Verland Ayers III, who was 28 years old at the time. In January 2020, Ayers was arrested and booked on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with McDowdell's shooting. Ayers was already in custody at the Maricopa County Jail on unrelated charges when the murder charge was added. Evidence gathered by investigators included cellphone tracking that placed Ayers in the vicinity of the crime scene and fingerprints on the firearm believed to be the murder weapon.
Despite the initial arrest and the evidence collected, the path to justice for Lance McDowdell's family has been fraught with uncertainty. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office later returned the case to the Phoenix Police Department for further investigation. As of late 2020, Ayers had not been formally charged with McDowdell's murder, though he remained a suspect. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, and McDowdell's family continues to seek answers and justice for their loved one. They have made public pleas for anyone with information to come forward to help bring closure to this tragic case.
