On a tragic day in Gilbert, Arizona, the life of 23-year-old Amber Nieve Mederos, a Caucasian female, was cut short in a horrifying act of violence. On May 2, 2012, a domestic dispute escalated into a mass shooting, leaving five people dead, including the gunman. The incident unfolded inside a suburban home where Amber's mother, 47-year-old Lisa Lynn Mederos, lived with her boyfriend, 39-year-old Jason Todd 'J.T.'
Ready, a former Marine with ties to neo-Nazi groups.
That afternoon, Amber had gone to the house with her 24-year-old boyfriend, Jim Franklin Hiott, and her 16-month-old daughter, Lilly Lynn Mederos. An argument erupted between Lisa and Ready, and the situation quickly turned deadly. A frantic 911 call was made from the home, and the operator could hear gunshots before the line went dead. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered a gruesome sight. Inside the house, they found the bodies of Amber and her mother, Lisa.
Outside the home, authorities found the bodies of Jim Hiott and J.T. Ready. It is believed that after shooting the others, Ready turned the gun on himself. Amidst the carnage, police found one survivor inside the house: Amber's infant daughter, Lilly. She was critically injured and rushed to a nearby hospital, but tragically, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the massacre revealed a history of domestic turmoil at the residence. Police had been called to the home on previous occasions for domestic violence reports. It was revealed that Lisa Mederos had reported to police in February 2012 that Ready had choked her the previous August, though no charges were filed due to a lack of evidence. Ready was known for his anti-immigrant activities and was even running for sheriff in Pinal County at the time of the killings. The horrific event left the community in shock and mourning the senseless loss of an entire family.
