MESA, Arizona~ Iren Byers, 20 , was taken into custody after a shooting spree that began late on a Friday afternoon in Phoenix and finished early Saturday morning in Mesa. New details regarding a shooting spree in the Valley, which claimed four lives and sent another to the hospital, have been published by the Mesa Police Department in court records. Alleged shooter Byers is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder.
The first victim was allegedly met by Byers on the canal bank in Phoenix on May 26 at 2:41 p.m., according to court filings filed on May 28. A surveillance camera recorded the shooting. Byers may be seen aiming a gun at the victim, a shot is heard, and then Byers flees the scene. Nicholas Arnstad, 41, was named as the victim by Phoenix police. There was a spent 9mm cartridge lying around. The fatal head wound ensured the victim’s death instantly. According to the court documents, Byers informed the detectives that he recognised the victim from the security camera footage and that he had met the victim along the canal.
Byers claimed he shot the man because the man was misusing fentanyl, a substance he finds repulsive because his brother also abuses it. Byers hopped on a bus after shooting the victim and fleeing the scene. Byers said police the victim did not represent any danger because he was unarmed. He said that he did not notify authorities after the incident because the victim did not merit assistance.
According to the evidence presented in court, after the first shooting, Byers travelled to Beverly Park in Mesa, where he saw the second victim. After the victim began discussing “blues,” a street name for fentanyl, Byers shot him in the head. Byers reiterated during the interview that the victim didn’t warrant his calling for help. The victim was named as Julian Cox, 41, by authorities in Mesa. An apartment building’s Ring security camera recorded the shooting.
According to the evidence presented in court, Byers and the third victim met at a Circle K in Mesa before catching the light rail together. They started talking while riding the train to Country Club Drive. They exited on Country Club Drive and started walking in the direction of Broadway. According to Byers, the victim preferred fentanyl over marijuana. Byers shot the man in the head as they strolled along. Byers told police he didn’t call for help because the victim didn’t deserve medical attention after the shooting. The victim, Stephen Young, 41, was recognised by authorities in Mesa. Investigators found a spent 9mm round casing at the location.
A homeless man was the fourth victim Byers allegedly encountered at Extension and 2nd Avenue in Mesa, as stated in court filings. Byers claimed he shot the victim in the head because he was a stranger and the man was homeless. The victim was shot once and then slid down a slope, where Byers continued to fire at him. When asked why he didn’t get medical attention, Byers stated the victim didn’t deserve it. John Swain, 40, was named as the victim by Mesa police. The fifth victim was shot by Byers because she had angered him, according to the court filings. Byers happened upon the lady while strolling down Main Street. She made him agitated during their conversation, and he ended up shooting her in the face. Since she was still breathing, he shot her once more. Byers said that the victim didn’t deserve help, therefore he didn’t dial 911.
Two shell casings were discovered by investigators at the location. Angela Fonseca, 36, was named as the victim by Mesa police. The patient is currently in stable condition at Banner Desert Hospital.
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