In Loving Memory — Phoenix Tragedy
The Phoenix community is mourning a heartbreaking tragedy that unfolded in the early hours of Monday morning—an event marked by violence, loss, and the fragile hope found in a child’s safety. Two lives were lost in what authorities have described as an apparent murder-suicide, leaving family members, loved ones, and neighbors searching for understanding amid grief.
According to police, events began around 2:30 a.m. near 7th Avenue and Dobbins Road, when officers attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle. The driver, 23-year-old Alexis Torres, fled and barricaded himself inside a nearby home. Shortly after, officers discovered a three-year-old child inside Torres’ vehicle. Investigators believe the child had been taken earlier Sunday evening from a home in Avondale.
As police negotiated with Torres, the situation took a devastating turn. Authorities report that he shot himself and was transported to a hospital, where he later died. Approximately an hour later, officers responded to a separate call near 67th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road, where a 30-year-old woman was found in the roadway with multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police later confirmed she was the child’s mother and that Torres, who had previously been in a relationship with her, was the suspect in her killing.
Amid the sorrow, there is one small mercy: the child was returned to family members unharmed.
Today, we remember a young mother whose life was taken far too soon and grieve the loss of all that might have been. We hold her loved ones—and especially her child—close in thought and prayer. May her memory be honored with compassion, and may this tragedy serve as a reminder of the importance of community care, awareness, and support for those in crisis.