Argument between neighbors in Surprise ends with fatal shooting, suspect arrested: PD
SURPRISE, Ariz. - A man is dead following a shooting in Surprise on New Year's Day and a suspect has been arrested, police said.
On Jan. 1 at around 5:30 a.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting in a neighborhood near Greenway Road and Grand Avenue. When they got to the scene, the officers were met by a 39-year-old identified in court documents as Manuel Vera Gonzales.
"Gonzales said he then retrieved a rifle he had 'staged' in his yard," police said. "Gunfire was exchanged between Gonzales and the unknown male, later identified as 20-year-old Xavier Elias."
Elias was shot multiple times. He was taken to a hospital by friends, where he later died.
Police say Gonzales was arrested after detectives spoke to witnesses and collected evidence.
Gonzales was booked into jail and is accused of second-degree murder.
"This was an isolated incident with no further threat posed to the surrounding area," police said.
Court documents reveal new details; Area residents speak out
Court documents are revealing new details on what led up to the deadly shooting.
Gonzales reportedly told officers he was sitting outside near a fire with friends when him and Elias exchanged words with other neighbors on a few occasions throughout the evening.
Documents didn’t reveal what these arguments were about, but the situation later took a seemingly dark turn. According to investigators, Gonzales claimed that Elias pointed a gun at him. Police officials said Gonzales then reached for his AR-15 rifle, and shot towards Elias.
According to records, officers initially found it was ‘unclear as to who the aggressor was.’ However, after interviewing Gonzales and other witnesses, officers booked Gonzales in jail.
As the investigation continues, people living in the area are talking about what had happened.
"I knew right away it wasn’t fireworks, because they were one after the other one," said Javier Ramirez.
Ramirez said the incident has left him worried.
"It does worry me," said Ramirez. "When people start firing guns, they can hurt a child, an innocent person."
Gonzales is accused of second-degree murder, and bond is set at half a million dollars.
If you have any information, you're asked to call police at 623-222-4000, or 623-222-TIPS. You can also send an email to crimetips@surpriseaz.gov.
Manuel Gonzales