In the winter of 2017, the life of 54-year-old Edward L. Nunn was brought to a tragic and violent end in Phoenix, Arizona. On December 17th, he and his wife of over 20 years, Rene Cooksey, were found shot to death in their apartment. Affectionately known as 'Lucky,' Nunn was born on September 15, 1963, in Gary, Indiana. He was a graduate of Lew Wallace High school and was employed at a professional office furniture store in Phoenix at the time of his death.
The aftermath of the double
homicide revealed a much larger and more sinister story. The primary suspect in the murders of Nunn and his wife was Rene's own son, Cleophus Cooksey Jr. It is believed that shortly before the killings, Cooksey Jr. had been kicked out of the apartment he shared with his mother and stepfather. Authorities allege that he returned to the residence and fatally shot both of them.
Following his arrest for the murders of his mother and stepfather, investigators began to connect Cooksey Jr. to a string of other unsolved homicides that had occurred in the Phoenix area over a three-week period in November and December of that year. Using ballistic evidence, law enforcement linked him to a total of nine killings. Prior to this violent spree, Cooksey Jr. had a criminal history, including a conviction for manslaughter for which he had served over 15 years in prison.
