GOODYEAR — Authorities are recommending manslaughter charges against an 18-year-old man for the 2020 death of his brother in Goodyear.
On March 2, 2020, officers responded to a home regarding a suspicious event/medical call, according to Goodyear police.
During the 911 call, a man told dispatchers that his son had been "stabbed or something" and he was bleeding very badly. The individual stated that both of his sons were in the garage and something happened and he needs help now.
Officers soon arrived at the scene where they found the mother applying pressure to the head of the one of the sons, who told authorities he was 19.
Authorities then asked if their other son, then 17-year-old Ryan Bradley, was okay. The man told authorities that Bradley was okay because he was the one who came inside the home to tell him something had happened to his other son, court documents said.
Crews on scene believed the son's injury was caused by gunfire, but officers could not find a weapon or any shell casings.
Court records stated the man told authorities there was no gun on the premises because he does not own a gun.
The mother told authorities that she heard a "pop" while inside the home and thought it had come from her neighbor's home. She then headed to the garage and found her husband, who was on the phone and told her to check on her son bleeding in the car.
Documents stated since the injury was caused by gunfire, there was no gun was located at the scene, and the family members did not provide any information about the incident, a search warrant was requested.
After the search warrant was completed, authorities located a firearm inside the residence. A DNA swab from the grip and trigger of the firearm matched Ryan Bradley, court records stated. It is unclear when the DNA results were concluded.
On Sunday, February 14, Goodyear police responded to a suspicious person call near 140th Avenue and Thomas Road. The caller told authorities he was following an individual who allegedly tried to break into his car earlier this month and had caught it on surveillance video.
Officers arrived at the location and detained 18-year-old Bradley, who was found to be in possession of a firearm.
He was later booked on possession of a handgun while being under 21 years of age and possession of stolen property charges.
Police are working to request that Bradley also be charged with manslaughter and felony charges for evidence tampering in reference to the investigation of his brother's death, according to court documents.
