2 kids shot, man dead in South Phoenix: police

PHOENIX – Phoenix Police are investigating a shooting that left one man dead, a mother and child seriously hurt, and another child injured on Saturday afternoon.

What we know:

At 2:45 p.m. on Nov. 22, police responded to the Lowe’s parking lot off 19th Avenue and Baseline Road regarding a shooting when a driver fired into another car with kids inside. 

Officers said four victims were shot, including two children.  The man driving an SUV was confirmed dead, while a woman and children are fighting for their lives in the hospital.

Police said they have a suspect in custody.

The backstory:

Police said there was some kind of dispute between the driver of a gray Dodge and a white SUV that escalated into a physical fight.

That’s when the driver of the Dodge shot into the SUV, killing the male driver and injuring the female passenger, as well as two young children who were sitting in the back seat. A third child was with them but wasn’t hurt. 

All three of the injured were taken to the hospital. The woman and one child are in critical condition, while the other injured child is stable. 

What they’re saying:

A man who was across the street in the McDonalds drive thru with his children when he heard the gunshots.

“I heard maybe three to four gunshots go off. And I look up and I see a guy just shooting, just aiming towards the white vehicle there. I immediately turn around, tell my kids to get out of the vehicle behind me. I put them on the other side of the vehicle and then I called 911. As I looked up, he was still shooting. So maybe eight to 10 shots that I saw,” a witness said. “It was scary especially as a father, you got your kids there, you’re at McDonald’s, you’re in public. You’re supposed to be safe. Someone shouldn’t have a gun in the middle of nowhere.”

Sergeant Brian Bower with Phoenix Police said even some bystanders’ cars were hit by gunfire.

“A couple of the vehicles from the witnesses, they were struck by this gunfire that occurred. They are safe. There’s nobody else that is injured besides the people that I have previously mentioned. But these are frightening times for everybody involved,” Sgt. Bower said. 

What we don’t know:

Police have not released the suspects identity or motive behind the shooting. 

It’s still unclear if the two drivers knew each other. 

What you can do:

Anyone with information or video of this shooting is asked to contact Phoenix Police or Silent Witness at 480-948-6377 to remain anonymous.

What’s next:

Detectives are still watching surveillance footage and trying to piece together what started the incident.

Map of the shooting location. 

Crime and Public SafetySouth PhoenixNews