Man arrested in connection with deadly shooting at Peoria home: PD

Arrest made in deadly double shooting in Peoria

PEORIA, Ariz. – Peoria Police officials say they have made an arrest in connection with a home shooting that left a couple dead in the West Valley.

In a statement released on the afternoon of Nov. 12, investigators say they arrested 21-year-old Alexander Lee Smith in Gilbert on the afternoon of Nov. 11.

The deadly shooting happened in 2023. At around 4:10 a.m. on Nov. 11 that year, officers responded to a home near 79th and Peoria Avenues for reports of a shooting. When they got there, they found a man inside who was shot dead. A woman was also found with life-threatening injuries from being shot. She was taken to the hospital where she died.

The two victims were identified as 52-year-old Walter Mitchell and 42-year-old Susie Ephrem.

At the time the shooting happened, police say there was forced entry into the victims’ home, citing preliminary information.

As for Smith, court documents we obtained state that law enforcement officers made contact with him during a traffic stop in Gilbert. Those court documents also state that Smith fled to Illinois after the incident, but did not state when Smith returned to Arizona.

Smith has been booked into Maricopa County Jail on two counts of First Degree Murder. Meanwhile, a judge has set a $3 million cash-only bond for Smith.