Boy dies after being shot in El Mirage neighborhood; 17-year-old suspect arrested

EL MIRAGE, Ariz. – A shooting in a West Valley neighborhood left a boy dead and another juvenile hurt.

What we know:

The shooting happened just before 8 p.m. on April 27 near El Mirage and Thunderbird roads. 

El Mirage Police say officers responded after receiving several 911 calls of gunshots in the area.

Once at the scene, a boy was found with gunshot wounds. The boy was taken to a hospital where he later died. Police say a second juvenile who showed up to a hospital with multiple gunshot wounds is expected to survive.

On May 1, police announced that they had arrested 17-year-old Schiloh Albin Niyibizi for the fatal shooting on April 29.

Officials stated, “Niyibizi was booked into the Maricopa County Juvenile Detention Facility and charged with 2nd Degree Murder, attempted 2nd Degree Murder, as well as several other felony and misdemeanor charges related to the incident.”

There is no known threat to the community.

Dig deeper:

“Our gunshot detection system assisted our officers in responding to the area quickly, and the support from the Arizona Department of Public Safety in processing evidence at the scene was instrumental in providing our investigators with the information to assist in making the arrest,” stated Police Chief Paul Marzocca. 

The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, also known as The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, stated that the victim’s name is Ashtin Raische Evans, age 17, and “Ashtin was fatally shot near El Mirage and Cactus roads while walking to a store with a friend. He later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.”

“The loss of Ashtin Raische Evans is heartbreaking,” said Daniel Chapin, Founder and President of the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation. “By all accounts, Ashtin was a kind-hearted young man with a tremendous capacity for love and connection. His death is a devastating reminder of the toll youth violence continues to take on families and communities across our nation.”

What we don’t know:

It’s unknown what led up to the shooting. EMPD says the investigation is ongoing. The name of the second juvenile has not been released.

What you can do:

Anyone with information is asked to call the El Mirage Police Department at 623-500-3277.

Map of the area where the shooting happened:

Crime and Public SafetyEl MirageNews