In the early morning hours of November 1, 2015, a Halloween party in Phoenix, Arizona, turned deadly, claiming the life of 24-year-old Rigoberto Andaloza. The gathering, which was attended by as many as 500 people, was taking place near 67th Avenue and Van Buren Street. A fight erupted amidst the large crowd, and in the ensuing chaos, gunshots were fired.
When the violence subsided, Andaloza had been fatally shot, and another individual was left with injuries but was expected to recover.
In the days that followed, the family of Rigoberto Andaloza, including his mother, Rosa, and his older sister, Sahira, made a heart-wrenching public plea for information. At a news conference held at the Phoenix police headquarters, they tearfully begged for anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward. Sahira described her brother as their 'baby brother' and questioned the senseless act of violence. She shared that Rigoberto had a job, was in the process of getting his life together, and had plans to get married. His family emphasized that he was not the type to frequent parties, making his presence at the event and his subsequent death all the more tragic for them.
The Phoenix Police Department expressed its frustration with the lack of cooperation from the numerous witnesses present at the party. Despite the large number of attendees, very few leads were generated in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Investigators received and analyzed cellphone video from the party which appeared to show an individual holding a gun, but unfortunately, the footage did not yield any new information to advance the case. The authorities and the grieving family urged anyone with pictures, videos, or any details, no matter how insignificant they might seem, to contact Silent Witness. The case remains a painful and unresolved tragedy for the Andaloza family, as no suspects have been publicly identified or arrested in connection with the murder of Rigoberto Andaloza.
