Phoenix man allegedly fatally shot 4 people because he dislikes homeless people and fentanyl
05/31/2023 1:42 pm PDT
PHOENIX (TCD) -- A 20-year-old man allegedly confessed to killing four people and injuring one during a violent shooting spree over the weekend that spanned two cities.
Court documents shared by KPNX-TV show Iren Shawndre Byers was arrested on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the deadly shootings that occurred during the afternoon and evening of May 26 and into the early morning hours of May 27.
According to the probable cause statement, on May 26 at 2:21 p.m., Byers and the first victim, who the Arizona Republic identified as Nicholas Arnstad, were on the canal bank on North 25th Street when Byers allegedly made a "furtive movement toward the victim consistent with pointing a gun." A noise that sounded like a gunshot was heard and the suspect could be seen fleeing the scene.
Phoenix Police arrived and found a 9 mm Luger shell casing near Arnstad, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Byers allegedly later told investigators he shot and killed Arnstad because he was smoking fentanyl, which he "did not like since the defendant’s brother abused the drug too." He allegedly admitted Arnstad "was not armed and was not a threat to him."
The affidavit says Byers did not contact police following the shooting "because he did not deserve it."
Hours later, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Mesa Police went to Beverly Park to conduct a welfare check on a person who was "found down" at the park. The officers noted the victim had a gunshot wound to the head. Surveillance footage from nearby apartments showed the suspect wearing a red shirt and black pants, which matched the description from the Phoenix shooting. The second victim, Julian Cox, reportedly talked to Byers about "blues," which is a street term for fentanyl, so Byers allegedly shot him.
At midnight, Mesa Police found another victim, Stephen Young, with a gunshot wound to his head. Young also reportedly "wanted to smoke blues," which resulted in Byers allegedly killing him. Minutes later, Mesa Police found Angela Fonseca with a gunshot wound to her head. Police said she is expected to survive. Byers allegedly said Fonseca “made him mad so he shot her in the face.”
He reportedly shot her a second time "because she wasn’t dead yet."
Two hours later, at 2:20 a.m., police discovered 40-year-old John Swain dead on train tracks. The criminal complaint says Swain told Byers he was homeless and "not from around here," so Byers allegedly shot him.
In all the cases, Byers reportedly did not call for medical assistance because he believed the victims "didn’t deserve it." Police discovered 9 mm shell casings at each of the crime scenes, too.
Police conducted a search at Byers' home and found a 9 mm Taurus handgun as well as the clothing described by witnesses and seen in surveillance footage.
Byers was booked into the Maricopa County Jail and is being held without bond.
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