PHOENIX — Police said one person was taken to the hospital with serious injuries after an apparent shooting between two groups of people on Tuesday afternoon at a strip mall in Avondale.
Authorities said they are continuing to investigate what led to the apparent shooting near 107th Avenue and Indian School Road.
According to police, responding officers interviewed witnesses who said they had seen occupants of a Jeep Liberty SUV and a Nissan Altima exchange gunfire in the parking lot and then flee the area.
One person inside the SUV was shot in the stomach and was taken to a nearby hospital where he was reported to be in critical condition.
Officers responded to the hospital, where they located the Jeep and processed it for evidence.
An Avondale Police Department spokesperson said detectives are currently processing other evidence and are still working to identify all the parties involved in the shooting.
Witnesses on Tuesday evening told ABC15 they heard upwards of 40 shots fired after two groups of people began shooting at each other.
"It must have been the glass that hit me because I mean, I felt something... and I saw the blood. I said, 'It couldn't be a bullet because I’d be dead right now,'” says Anthony Marquez, caught in the crossfire and left with a cut to prove it.
It was a close call for Marquez as a bullet flew through the windshield of his truck.
"It was like, ‘pop, pop, pop, pop,’" says Marquez. "Bitter enemies, right off the bat, because as soon as the car stopped, the guys were barely getting out, and then the other pulls up. They just started shooting."
Police say they’re working to determine if this incident is in any way related to a nearby stolen vehicle that was reported.
“The public is safe now. The officers, who got here as fast as they did, they were able to capture everybody who is involved," said Lauren Evans with Avondale police. "And, anybody who was of interest is now… we know who they are and they’re either detained or being questioned.”
Phoenix police have not released any additional details and say this is an active investigation.
If anyone has any information regarding the shooting they are urged to contact the Avondale Police Department at 623-333-7001, or if they wish to remain anonymous they can contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
