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PD: West Phoenix shooting victim shot two more times while saving woman

Shooting 75th Avenue and Thomas Road
Posted at 12:12 PM, Feb 18, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-18 14:39:08-05

PHOENIX — A shooting victim was shot two more times while pushing a woman out of the way of the shooter.

Phoenix police say one man was killed and another person was hurt during the shooting in the West Valley on Sunday morning.

Authorities were called to the area of 75th Avenue and Thomas Road around 2:00 a.m. Sunday for reports of shots fired. Officials say the incident occurred amid an ongoing feud between two women who are co-workers.

One of the shooting victims, 33-year-old Juan Damian Diaz, picked his girlfriend up from work, while the second victim, a 25-year-old man, also picked up his girlfriend from work.

The victims were followed by 24-year-old Gabriel Munoz, who was traveling with his girlfriend.

Both victims turned onto a street to get away from Munoz, but it was a cul-de-sac where Munoz opened fire on the victims, police say. Diaz was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other victim was shot in the arm and was seen putting a tourniquet on his own arm.

Police say Munoz fled the scene but turned around and came back towards the victims.

One of the women told police that she saw a laser pointer from Munoz’s gun coming out of the car window, pointed at her. Her friend pushed her out of the way and was shot two more times, according to court records.

He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, with gunshot wounds to the arm, knee, and hip, but is expected to survive, police say.

None of the women involved were hurt.

Munoz was later located and taken into custody.

He is being held on a $1.5-million bond on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and drive-by shooting.