In the early morning hours of October 16, 2016, the life of 34-year-old Andrew T. Noriega was tragically cut short in his hometown of Casa Grande, Arizona. A Hispanic male, Noriega was at Barrington's Pub, located near Main Street and Trekell Road, when an altercation broke out. The dispute escalated, and the sound of gunfire pierced the night around 12:30 a.m.
When police officers arrived at the scene, they found Noriega with a gunshot wound to his upper torso.
Emergency services transported him to Banner Casa Grande Medical Center, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead. Friends and family remembered Andrew as a Christian man who was always smiling and joking. He was a delivery driver for a company in Phoenix and was described as a hard worker who was continuing his education and making positive changes in his life. He was a fan of the Arizona Cardinals and enjoyed music, dancing, and spending time with his loved ones.
The Casa Grande Police Department quickly launched an investigation into the shooting. Their efforts led to the arrest of 26-year-old Trelayne Hampton in connection with Noriega's death. Hampton was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and was booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center. The community was left to mourn the loss of a father, son, and brother, as funeral services were held and he was laid to rest at Mountain View Cemetery in Casa Grande.
