In the winter of 2024, a young man's life was cut short in Phoenix, Arizona, over what police believe was a robbery for vape cartridges. On the afternoon of December 23rd, 17-year-old Anthony Rabadan was found with gunshot wounds in the front yard of a house near 51st Avenue and McDowell Road. Emergency services responded to a call about a person down and rushed the male teenager to a nearby hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal.
Witnesses reported seeing two men dressed in all
black with Rabadan, appearing to go through his pockets. One witness described a chilling scene where one of the suspects straddled Rabadan, who was on his back, while the other stood over him. A loud pop was heard, followed by one of the suspects exclaiming in surprise. The two men then fled the area, leaving Rabadan fatally wounded. His family later informed investigators that he had been selling vape cartridges, which can cost as little as ten dollars.
The investigation into Anthony's death quickly pointed to two 18-year-olds, Salvadora Montenegro and Adrian Summa. Police uncovered Instagram messages between Rabadan and one of the suspects, where he had indicated his location. A family friend of Rabadan's also came forward, stating he knew the suspects from a juvenile corrections facility and that one of them had admitted to the robbery and shooting in a phone call. Court documents revealed that both Montenegro and Summa were documented gang members.
Investigators used social media, witness statements, and surveillance footage from nearby businesses to piece together the events of that tragic afternoon. Instagram records showed Montenegro with a gun believed to be the murder weapon, which he appeared to sell after the incident. In another message, Summa reportedly wrote, 'I did sum hot not gon even lie me n brudda.' When sent a news report about the homicide, Summa's alleged reply was a simple, 'oops.' On January 2, 2025, Salvadora Montenegro and Adrian Summa were arrested and booked on charges including murder and armed robbery.
