In the early morning hours of September 25, 2015, a tragic event unfolded in Phoenix, Arizona, that claimed the life of Jess Allen Sixkiller, a 78-year-old male and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. The respected elder and activist was fatally shot inside his own home in what authorities have described as a random home invasion.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:00 a.m.
Sixkiller's wife of 58 years, who was at home at the time, heard a disturbance and intruders speaking in broken English. Fearing for her safety, she locked herself in a room and immediately dialed 911 for help. When Phoenix police officers arrived at the residence, they discovered signs of a forced entry. Inside, they found Jess Allen Sixkiller suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite the immediate response, his injuries proved to be fatal.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Phoenix Police Department launched an investigation into the murder. However, the case has remained unsolved, with no arrests made and no suspects publicly identified. The initial assessment by law enforcement pointed towards a random act of violence, though some in the community have questioned this conclusion given Sixkiller's prominent role as an advocate for urban Indians and his history of challenging systemic issues. The lack of closure in the case has been a source of ongoing pain for his family and the many lives he touched. A reward was offered for any information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the perpetrator or perpetrators, but the case remains an open and unresolved homicide.
