Phoenix murder victim's family members hold news conference as police continue to search for suspect
PHOENIX - Family members of a 27-year-old man who was shot and killed in 2022 held a news conference on Jan. 17, as Phoenix Police detectives continue to look for the person responsible.
The news conference was attended by the mother, fiancé, sister, and brother of the victim, identified as Leonel Pineda-Valdez.
""He was a momma's boy," said Pineda-Valdez's brother, Eduardo Pineda. "He was hard working, he was driven, and he was very smart."
Phoenix murder victim's family pleads for help
It has been over a year since a man was shot and killed at a Maryvale intersection, and as Phoenix Police investigators continue to look for those responsible, family and loved ones of the victim are asking for help from members of the public. FOX 10's Marc Martinez has more.
We reported on the deadly incident in 2022, which happened in the area of 67th Avenue and Thomas Road on Oct. 30 that year. At the time, a police spokesperson said officers responded to reports of a shooting in the area, and found Pineda-Valdez inside a car that had crashed into a fence behind a business.
Pineda-Valdez, according to officials, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Before Pineda-Valdez was shot, detectives said he was involved in a verbal fight in the parking lot of a drug store nearby. Witnesses told investigators it had escalated to several rounds being fired from a gun.
"Hope somebody has it in their heart to come forward and say something to Silent Witness - something they saw, maybe - because I know he didn't fight like that with people he didn't know," said Pineda-Valdez's sister, Danitza Pineda. "Somebody could have seen something, so please come forward."
Police say a suspect was seen leaving the area of the shooting, but so far, they do not have any description of the suspect.
Leonel Pineda-Valdez
Anyone with information should leave an anonymous tip by calling Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS. Spanish speakers can leave an anonymous tip by calling Testigo Silencioso at 480-TESTIGO.
Si tiene alguna información sobre este caso, llame a la línea de Testigo Silencioso (480-TESTIGO, 480-837-8446).
Silent Witness
https://www.silentwitness.org/