Gang shooting leaves innocent man dead

by Michael Ferraresi - Mar. 24, 2009 12:34 PM
The Arizona Republic

Police on Tuesday said an innocent man suffered a fatal gunshot wound during a midday gang shooting in south Phoenix.

The 54-year-old victim was struck Monday by a rifle's bullet fired from a vehicle moving northbound on 16th Street near Elwood Street, according to Phoenix Detective Cindy Scott.

Gilbert Leon, who died later at an area hospital, was also driving northbound on 16th Street when someone in a group of unidentified men fired a rifle at a blue 1996 Chevrolet Caprice on 16th Street.

"Investigators believe the victim was an innocent bystander and not directly involved in an altercation with the suspect," Scott wrote in an e-mail, adding that little information on the suspect was immediately available.

Officers responded around 1 p.m. in the 3600 block of South 16th Street, just north of Broadway Road.

Four people were inside the Caprice when the suspect opened fire on the vehicle, striking it several times. A 31-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to his lower back but was in stable condition at a local hospital, police said.

A 48-year-old woman was uninjured when her 2007 BMW SUV was also struck by random bullets.

No arrests have been made. Police are searching for three men involved in the shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to call Phoenix Police at (602) 262-6141 or Silent Witness at (480) WITNESS.

Situational awareness:  try to be aware of what’s happening around you.  Avoid confrontation as much as possible.  And still, you may die because of somebodies rotten crotchfruit with a gun.