In the early morning hours of October 5, 2018, a tragedy unfolded in the Roosevelt Row arts district of Phoenix, Arizona, that cut short the life of 24-year-old Zachary Walter. A talented artist and poet, Walter had recently finished his shift as a cook at Jobot Coffee & Bar and was walking home with his friend and co-worker, 41-year-old David Bessent. The two were making their way near Third Avenue and Roosevelt Street at approximately 3:30 a.m.
when they were confronted in what authorities believe was an armed robbery.
During the encounter, both Walter and Bessent were shot. Walter died at the scene from his injuries, his life extinguished in a senseless act of violence that sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community. Bessent was critically wounded and rushed to a local hospital, but he sadly succumbed to his injuries days later on October 10, 2018. Friends and colleagues remembered Walter as a compassionate and empathetic person, a brilliant and creative soul who had become an integral part of the local arts scene. In the wake of the devastating loss, the community came together, creating a memorial outside Jobot and raising funds to support the families of the two beloved men.
The investigation into the double homicide continued for nearly a year, leaving a void of unanswered questions. Initially, police had little to go on, other than a description of a possible suspect vehicle, a light-colored SUV. However, a breakthrough in the case came in August 2019, when the Phoenix Police Department announced the arrests of two teenage suspects. Antonio Palafox-Zermeno, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, and Castulo Cervantes, who was 15, were taken into custody. Both were charged as adults with first-degree murder and other offenses related to the deaths of Zachary Walter and David Bessent. While the arrests brought a measure of progress, authorities indicated that they believed at least two other suspects may have been involved in the crime, and the investigation remained ongoing.
