- 2017 Phoenix-area spree left 8 dead over 21 days
- Physical evidence links suspect to multiple crime scenes
- Case delayed by pandemic, marks third serial shooting crisis
Nearly seven years after a series of brutal shootings paralyzed Phoenix residents, the trial of Cleophus Cooksey Jr. opened Monday in a case exposing systemic challenges in prosecuting complex violent crimes. The 43-year-old defendant faces eight murder charges across Phoenix and Glendale during a three-week period that authorities describe as Arizona's third major serial shooting crisis since 2015.
Prosecutors revealed chilling connections between the crimes, including a murder weapon tied to four homicides and victim DNA allegedly found on Cooksey. Unlike Phoenix's previous serial shooting cases that generated immediate media attention, this spree remained under wraps until Cooksey's arrest following the December 2017 killings of his mother and stepfather. Forensic teams reportedly discovered keys to victim Maria Villanueva's vehicle and a security guard's necklace in Cooksey's possession.
The timeline shows escalating violence beginning November 27, 2017, when Parker Smith and Andrew Remillard became the first victims shot in a parking lot. Five days later, security guard Salim Richards perished in an altercation where Cooksey allegedly stole both his firearm and jewelry. Glendale apartment complex shootings claimed Latorrie Beckford and Kristopher Cameron before Villanueva's sexually assaulted body was discovered partially nude in a Phoenix alley.
Phoenix PD's breakthrough came when responding to Cooksey's bloodstained apartment on December 17, 2017. Officers discovered his parents' bodies and physical evidence connecting him to earlier crimes. Legal analysts note the pandemic created unprecedented delays, with jury selection protocols and expert witness availability complicating preparations for Arizona's first major death penalty case since 2020.
Regional crime patterns reveal Phoenix's struggle with serial violence. Between 2015-2017, three distinct shooting crises occurred: the 2015 freeway attacks (11 incidents), Aaron Saucedo's 2016-17 spree (9 deaths), and Cooksey's alleged crimes. Unlike the highway shootings that prompted travel warnings, Cooksey's mixed victimology - targeting both acquaintances and strangers - created investigative hurdles.
Court documents show Cooksey maintained innocence through handwritten letters, claiming musical career ambitions contradicted murder charges. His defense team previously challenged a ninth unproven allegation involving an ex-girlfriend's brother. Prosecutors ultimately dropped that charge due to insufficient evidence, though it remains part of the case's complex narrative.
With Arizona's homicide clearance rate at 54% (below the national 61% average), this trial tests forensic reinvestigation capabilities. Key evidence includes ballistics matching multiple crime scenes and Villanueva's DNA analysis. Victims' families await closure as Phoenix confronts lingering fears from its serial violence era.
