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16-year-old critically injured in Gilbert shooting, police say

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Published  December 14, 2025 2:39pm MST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 10 Phoenix

The Brief

    • A 16-year-old boy was shot and critically injured Saturday evening while at a Gilbert home.
    • The suspect, 21-year-old Rael Sanchez, was found in Phoenix the next morning following an unrelated incident.
    • Sanchez has been arrested and booked on a charge of attempted second-degree murder in connection with the shooting.

GILBERT, Ariz. - Gilbert Police are investigating a shooting that left a teen boy in critical condition on Saturday evening. 

What we know:

Officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 900 block of South Deerfield Lane just before 8 p.m. on Dec. 13.

A 16-year-old victim was found with serious injuries and taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. 

Police said he had been visiting his girlfriend at the residence. At the same time, 21-year-old Rael Sanchez, who is a relative of one of the homeowners was visiting family at the home.

Prior to the incident, witnesses told officers that he had been acting erratically and was seen in possession of a firearm. 

Following the shooting, Sanchez left the home in a vehicle. 

Dig deeper:

Around 10 a.m. on Dec. 14, Phoenix Police found Sanchez through "his involvement in an unrelated incident in Phoenix," according to Gilbert Police. He was taken to a nearby hospital and later taken into custody once he was released.

Sanchez was arrested and booked on an attempted second-degree murder charge. 

Map of the shooting location.

The Source: Gilbert Police Department

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