Man accused of killing ex and her new boyfriend in Phoenix before killing himself

PHOENIX (TCD) -- A 24-year-old man allegedly fatally shot his 29-year-old ex-girlfriend and her new 38-year-old boyfriend before killing himself.

According to KSAZ-TV, on Sunday, June 19, shortly before midnight, Phoenix Police officers responded to an apartment near 20th Avenue and Hadley Street to a report of a shooting. At the scene, authorities reportedly found a fatally shot man, later identified as Eric Sands, in front of the apartment.

Upon further search of the apartment, authorities reportedly found a woman, later identified as Danica Aiken, who had also been fatally shot. Police then found a man, Taffari Celestine, who had died from an alleged self-inflicted gunshot wound, KSAZ reports.

According to KPNX-TV, investigators believe Celestine shot the new boyfriend, Sands, outside the apartment before forcing Aiken inside.

In a statement to KSAZ, police said, "A witness also told the officer that they saw the suspect force a woman inside an apartment and then they heard shots."

An anonymous neighbor told KSAZ, "I couldn’t see the actual shooter, but I saw when he got shot. I saw him fall. I heard it. [It] sounded like it was in my backyard, actually. That’s how close it was."

The anonymous neighbor added, "I heard screaming, yelling, 'Please somebody help me,' type of deal. Then I heard the gunshot. Wait, that’s way too close. That sounded like it was in my yard."

The investigation remains ongoing.

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