In the fall of 2017, the city of Casa Grande, Arizona, was rocked by a brutal act of violence that claimed the lives of four individuals, including Justin Allen Yates. A 32-year-old White / Caucasian man, Yates was tragically caught in the crossfire of a domestic dispute that escalated to a quadruple homicide on October 5, 2017. The incident unfolded at a residence located near Pinal Avenue and McMurray Boulevard, shattering the quiet of the neighborhood and leaving a community in mourning.
Police were summoned to the scene by a 911 call reporting the sound of gunfire. Upon their arrival, they discovered a grim tableau. Inside the home, Yates, along with Connie Carrera, 31, Crysta Proctor, 29, and Jose Martin Aguilera, 27, were found deceased. The investigation quickly pointed to a targeted attack rooted in domestic turmoil. It was revealed that Crysta Proctor was the estranged wife of one of the men who would soon become a primary suspect. Public social media posts indicated that the couple had a tumultuous relationship, having married and separated within the same year.
The investigation swiftly led to the apprehension of two suspects. Alec Javier Perez, 31, and Rodney Ortiz Jr., 22, were taken into custody and subsequently charged with four counts of first-degree murder. A neighbor reported seeing two men fleeing the duplex in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. The presence of law enforcement descended upon the area, prompting nearby schools to be placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure while the search for the perpetrators was underway. The case was later submitted to the Pinal County Attorney's Office for review, marking the beginning of the legal proceedings against Perez and Ortiz Jr. The mother of Alec Javier Perez released a written statement expressing her love for her son but firmly condemning violent behavior and offering condolences to the families of the victims.
