PHOENIX — Phoenix police detectives are searching for the gunman who they say shot and killed a great grandfather early Sunday morning.
Authorities say the homicide took place around 12:30 a.m. near 32nd Street and Baseline Road.
Investigators say 71-year-old Harold Treadwell III was shot in the torso while driving west on Baseline Road. It's unclear how many blocks he drove before crossing the median and crashing his car. The bullet came from outside of the car, according to police.
"We don't know much more than he suffered a gunshot wound and died," said Sgt. Maggie Cox, with Phoenix police. "We are really depending on anybody that we have not already talked to call us."
Investigators are not saying that the shooting was random, but they also say there is no indication he was targeted or that anything led up to the gunfire.
Treadwell was a husband, father, and even a great grandfather. Originally from Indiana, he moved to Arizona in 2003.
Treadwell's son told ABC15 that his father, a Lyft driver, loved to pan for gold, play golf and tennis, and spend time with family.
In a GoFundMe account created for the family, a friend shared Treadwell's wife's Facebook post from the day he died.
In the post, Frances Treadwell wrote, "Today is our 52nd wedding anniversary and we spoke right before he was killed and wished each other a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY (thank you God for allowing me to have that last conversation with him so I could tell him that I loved him!)"
She went on to say, "He was such a good, kind, giving and loving man!!! I won't lie - it is going to be extremely tough to live on without him! He was my best friend, soulmate and lover! May you rest in peace my sweet hubby and cowboy (that is my nickname for him!) I miss you so much already!"
In an emailed statement, a Lyft spokesperson told ABC15: “We are deeply saddened and shocked by this loss. Our sympathies go out to the loved ones of Harold Treadwell and all those impacted by this tragedy. We are actively assisting law enforcement and will continue helping in any way we can."
At this time, police do not have any suspect information."
Anyone with information concerning this incident is encouraged to contact the Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151 or if they wish to remain anonymous, they can contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.
