On the evening of May 17, 2005, Tony Mendez, a 38-year-old male construction worker, was riding his bicycle in Phoenix, Arizona, when he was fatally shot. His death marked the beginning of a terrifying 14-month period of random, senseless violence that gripped the Phoenix metropolitan area. Initially, first responders believed Mendez had been the victim of a hit-and-run accident, but upon examination, they discovered a gunshot wound to his back.
At the time of his death, he was reportedly on his way to bring candles to a family without electricity.
The seemingly motiveless killing was the first in a string of nighttime shootings that terrorized the community, targeting pedestrians, bicyclists, and even animals. The perpetrators, who became known as the 'Serial Shooters,' sowed fear with their unpredictable and indiscriminate attacks. For over a year, law enforcement officials worked to connect the series of shootings that included eight deaths and numerous injuries. A significant breakthrough in the case came in August 2006, following a tip from an acquaintance of one of the suspects.
This crucial information led investigators to two roommates, Dale Hausner and Samuel Dieteman. Upon their arrest in Mesa, a search of their belongings uncovered a map with markings near some of the shooting locations, further linking them to the crimes. Hausner, a custodian at the local airport and a boxing photojournalist, and his roommate Dieteman were subsequently charged with numerous crimes related to the shooting spree.
During legal proceedings, Samuel Dieteman pleaded guilty to two of the murders and agreed to testify against his former roommate. Dale Hausner was charged with Tony Mendez's murder, but was ultimately acquitted of that specific charge at trial. However, Hausner was convicted of numerous other murders and a total of 80 charges related to the crime spree, resulting in multiple death sentences. In 2013, Dale Hausner died by suicide in prison. Samuel Dieteman was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
