Party shooting in northern Arizona ends with 2 dead, suspect arrested

RIMROCK, Ariz. - The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a shooting at a party in Rimrock left two people dead and another wounded, which investigators believe is the suspect.

Authorities received multiple 911 calls about a shooting near the 4000 block of Top O The Morning Drive at around 11 p.m. on Oct. 15.

When deputies arrived, they found that three people had been shot at a large party.

Two of them did not survive their injuries, and a third person, believed to be the suspect, suffered minor wounds.

Rafael Zapata of Camp Verde and Efrain Arreola of Rimrock died in the shooting. Both are 27.

As for the suspect, 22-year-old Edgar Arreola of Rimrock, was booked into jail on suspicion of first-degree murder.

Edgar Arreola

"YCSO Detectives have been working through the night conducting interviews and are confident that all subjects involved in the shooting have been identified and located," officials said.

Days after the shooting, investigators provided an update, saying witnesses reported seeing partygoers surround Zapata's car and knock out a window when he tried to leave the party with his friends.

"Zapata then produced a gun and fired into the crowd striking Efrain Ruiz-Arreola of Rimrock and killing him," the sheriff's office said

After Efrain was shot, the sheriff's office said Edgar Arreola pulled out a gun and shot Zapata multiple times.

"After initially firing into the car, and after Zapata was clearly incapacitated and no longer an imminent threat, Edgar Arreola circled the car to the other side and fired again at Zapata," the sheriff's office said. 

The shooting remains under investigation.