In the late summer of 2016, a life was tragically cut short in Phoenix. A 24-year-old man named Rosario Cortez was killed on September 2nd during a physical altercation that escalated to gunfire. The fatal encounter occurred near Central and Dunlap avenues, where a dispute between two groups turned deadly. Cortez was shot during the fight and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting led Phoenix police to a 17-year-old male suspect.
Less than two weeks after Cortez's death, the teenager was taken into custody. During an interview with detectives, the juvenile admitted his involvement in the shooting.
Following his confession, the 17-year-old was booked into juvenile custody on one count of second-degree murder. The swift arrest brought a measure of resolution to the violent death of Rosario Cortez, though the circumstances surrounding the initial conflict remain a somber reminder of how quickly a dispute can escalate to a fatal conclusion.
