Esteban Valenzuela was a 16-year-old Hispanic male who was known for his passion and big dreams. A sophomore at Student Choice High School in Maricopa, Arizona, Esteban aspired to become a barber, learning his craft from YouTube videos and practicing on his grandfather and friends. His mother, Aurora Martinez, remembered him as her "protector," while his older brother, Anthony, called him a "go-getter."
His family said he loved everybody and would often go around his neighborhood offering to help with yardwork or any other tasks he could do.
On the evening of November 22, 2024, just before 7:15 p.m., Esteban was shot in the Maricopa Meadows community. Police responded to a call on West Dirk Street, near the intersection with Dancer Lane, and found the wounded teenager on the sidewalk. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. An autopsy later determined that he died from a single gunshot wound to the chest that struck his heart and other vital organs.
The police investigation revealed the shooting was the result of a planned armed robbery that went wrong. Detectives learned that Esteban was part of a group of youths who intended to rob another 16-year-old, Sergio Michael Munoz, of cannabis. During the confrontation, a firearm was discharged, and Esteban was fatally shot by a member of his own group. At the scene, investigators found vape boxes scattered on the ground. Court records also showed that nine months before his death, Esteban himself had been investigated for an armed assault on his brother.
Between November 27 and December 16, 2024, Maricopa police arrested four youths in connection with the killing. The suspects were 15-year-old Isaiah Bandin, who was Esteban’s cousin; 17-year-old Eliot Jackson; a 16-year-old boy; and a 15-year-old girl. Bandin and Jackson were charged as adults with first-degree murder and armed robbery. The other two teens faced related charges in juvenile court.
In January 2026, Eliot Jackson, then 18, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and armed robbery as part of a plea agreement. The following month, a jury convicted Isaiah Bandin, then 16, of first-degree murder and armed robbery. The other two teens also pleaded guilty; the 16-year-old boy admitted to armed robbery, and the 15-year-old girl admitted to facilitation of armed robbery.
In March 2026, the sentences were handed down. Isaiah Bandin was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Eliot Jackson received a sentence of 25 years in prison. The 16-year-old boy was sentenced to juvenile detention until his 18th birthday, and the 15-year-old girl was sentenced to probation. With all four individuals sentenced, the case was closed as of March 2026.
