On a Friday morning, February 12, 2016, the campus of Independence High School in Glendale, Arizona, became the scene of a tragedy. Just before the start of the school day, two 15-year-old female students, May Kieu and Dorothy Dutiel, were found under a covered patio near the cafeteria. Both had sustained a single gunshot wound. A handgun and a suicide note were discovered nearby, leading investigators to conclude the event was a murder-suicide.
The investigation revealed that the two
girls were sophomores at the school and had been in a romantic relationship. It was determined that Dorothy Dutiel was the shooter, taking May Kieu's life before turning the gun on herself. The motive appeared to stem from heartbreak over their unraveling relationship. Notes left behind by Dutiel expressed her emotional distress and apologized for her actions, while also providing matter-of-fact details for first responders.
Further investigation focused on how the shooter obtained the weapon. It was discovered that a 15-year-old male classmate had provided the handgun to Dutiel. He told authorities that she had asked for the gun for protection and had promised to return it. The classmate, who was cooperative with the investigation, had taken the gun from his home without his parents' knowledge. Glendale police recommended a charge of sale or gift of a firearm to a minor against the student, with the final decision on pressing charges left to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
