Police investigate related shooting, crash that left 1 dead in west Phoenix
One man died and two men were arrested after two separate but related incidents took place Sunday evening in Phoenix.
According to Phoenix police, just after 7:30 p.m., officers responded to a shooting near 35th Avenue and Bethany Home Road. They found a man, identified as 28-year-old Frank Avila, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Police then found another man, identified as 26-year-old Martin Anaya, north of the intersection on 35th Avenue. He was suffering from critical injuries caused by a car crash and was later pronounced dead, according to police.
In their investigation, detectives determined that Avila attempted to rob Anaya while they were on the city bus. During the attempted robbery, according to Phoenix police, Avila stabbed Anaya causing him to get off the bus to escape while Avila followed him. Anaya was then struck by a vehicle, which left the scene before police arrived.
Police did not clarify how or why Avila was shot. They said that police spoke with the man who shot him and then released him.
Avila was arrested after being released from the hospital, and faces multiple charges including armed robbery and murder.
A follow-up investigation concluded that the driver of the vehicle was 46-year-old Alberto Valenzuela, who was arrested for leaving the collision.
As of Monday morning, 35th Avenue from Bethany Home Road north to Maryland was closed off for the investigation.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Police investigate related shooting, fatal crash in west Phoenix
