MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ - During a family gathering, a relative of one of the homeowners shot his stepsister's boyfriend in the neck after a weekend evening turned chaotic, according to authorities.
The alleged suspect, 21-year-old Rael Sanchez, has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, the Gilbert Police Department (GPD) announced. The incident happened on Saturday, December 13 at a home on the 900 block of South Deerfield Lane in Gilbert, Arizona.
Police said that a teenage girl and resident of the house had her 16-year-old boyfriend over at the same time that Sanchez, "a relative of one of the homeowners," was visiting. Sometime before 8:00 p.m., the couple was in the girl's room when Sanchez reportedly walked in and asked the boyfriend if he had his phone number, Law & Crime reported.
According to court documents, he didn't and he told Sanchez no. When the boyfriend asked Sanchez if he wanted his number, the defendant laughed and left, the girl recounted.
The couple also left, going outside to a nearby basketball court, and as they walked outside behind the home, the girl saw Sanchez talking with another family member. Sanchez walked up to the couple and the girl could see a gun in his waistband, according to police.
Sanchez was reportedly behaving oddly, slurring his words and trying to antagonize the boyfriend, making comments like "you ain't sh*t" and "you ain't about sh*t." The girl said she walked inside and told her family members about her stepbrother's actions, but they told her Sanchez was just "checking" the boyfriend.
When she rejoined them, Sanchez and her boyfriend were talking. The alleged suspect was holding a bag and repeatedly saying "take me to Asia." The girl said her boyfriend looked scared. The couple decided to walk back inside, but Sanchez kept his focus on the boyfriend.
As they walked, the girl recalled hearing a loud "pop" sound and then seeing her boyfriend fall to the floor. Sanchez allegedly ran away from the house and then drove away in his father's pickup truck. Gilbert police officers were called to the scene and upon arrival found the victim with "serious injuries."
The boyfriend was brought to a nearby hospital in critical condition. He was shot in the neck, with the bullet damaging his spine. When he woke up in the hospital, he reportedly couldn't feel his arms or legs. Hospital workers told police that he would likely be paralyzed if he survives the shooting.
Authorities searched for Sanchez and were not able to locate him until the following morning, when Phoenix officers reported seeing him in the city. Once detained, he was taken to an area hospital for injuries that are unclear.
Once he was released, Gilbert police took him into custody. According to family, they believe Sanchez was experiencing mental health issues prior to the shooting. He was booked into the Maricopa County Jail and remains on a $1 million cash-only bond.
The alleged suspect, 21-year-old Rael Sanchez, has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, the Gilbert Police Department (GPD) announced. The incident happened on Saturday, December 13 at a home on the 900 block of South Deerfield Lane in Gilbert, Arizona.
Police said that a teenage girl and resident of the house had her 16-year-old boyfriend over at the same time that Sanchez, "a relative of one of the homeowners," was visiting. Sometime before 8:00 p.m., the couple was in the girl's room when Sanchez reportedly walked in and asked the boyfriend if he had his phone number, Law & Crime reported.
According to court documents, he didn't and he told Sanchez no. When the boyfriend asked Sanchez if he wanted his number, the defendant laughed and left, the girl recounted.
The couple also left, going outside to a nearby basketball court, and as they walked outside behind the home, the girl saw Sanchez talking with another family member. Sanchez walked up to the couple and the girl could see a gun in his waistband, according to police.
Sanchez was reportedly behaving oddly, slurring his words and trying to antagonize the boyfriend, making comments like "you ain't sh*t" and "you ain't about sh*t." The girl said she walked inside and told her family members about her stepbrother's actions, but they told her Sanchez was just "checking" the boyfriend.
When she rejoined them, Sanchez and her boyfriend were talking. The alleged suspect was holding a bag and repeatedly saying "take me to Asia." The girl said her boyfriend looked scared. The couple decided to walk back inside, but Sanchez kept his focus on the boyfriend.
As they walked, the girl recalled hearing a loud "pop" sound and then seeing her boyfriend fall to the floor. Sanchez allegedly ran away from the house and then drove away in his father's pickup truck. Gilbert police officers were called to the scene and upon arrival found the victim with "serious injuries."
The boyfriend was brought to a nearby hospital in critical condition. He was shot in the neck, with the bullet damaging his spine. When he woke up in the hospital, he reportedly couldn't feel his arms or legs. Hospital workers told police that he would likely be paralyzed if he survives the shooting.
Authorities searched for Sanchez and were not able to locate him until the following morning, when Phoenix officers reported seeing him in the city. Once detained, he was taken to an area hospital for injuries that are unclear.
Once he was released, Gilbert police took him into custody. According to family, they believe Sanchez was experiencing mental health issues prior to the shooting. He was booked into the Maricopa County Jail and remains on a $1 million cash-only bond.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments