2 Dead, 5 Wounded In Gang Shootout

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Phoenix police say two teenage boys are dead and five other teens have been wounded after a shootout among gang members at a party.

Killed in the house was Alonzo Santos, 17, and one of the suspect’s, Sergio Pelayo, 16. The suspect’s 18-year-old companion was also shot.

There was a party attended by gang members early Saturday at a home near Southern and 19th avenues and two members of a rival gang arrived, according to Detective Stacie Derge.

The two young men went inside the house, had a brief exchange of words and then pulled out handguns and started shooting, Derge said. Derge said people inside the home returned fire.

A neighbor, Arnold Salaiz, said he heard between 10 to 20 rounds of gunfire.

“When you have this many bullets flying, people get shot,” Derge said. “At this point we do not know who returned fire or how many people returned fire,” Derge said.

Four other young men, two 17-year-olds and two 18-year-olds, are being treated for gunshot wounds.

None of the wounded suffered life-threatening injuries.

“We do not yet know if some of the victims that were shot are also people that returned fire,” Derge said.

Derge said officers have recovered some weapons. “We are not looking for any outstanding suspects,” she said. “It really appears they were shooting simply because they were from a rival gang.”

As officers were rushing to the scene, they saw a maroon vehicle run a stop sign at 23rd and Southern avenues and pulled that vehicle over, believing that it may be related to the shooting, Derge said. “There were two victims inside with gunshot wounds and they were transported to the hospital by the fire department from there,” Derge said.

Derge said the South Mountain Precinct is already working very diligently with community members, churches and businesses in the area in a collaborative effort to combat gang violence.

“This community is actively involved with police to report gang activity and assist in prevention,” Derge said. “We want to encourage those efforts even as we investigate this multiple homicide.”

Derge noted when people are involved in gang activity, the violence can escalate quickly. “That is why it is so important that the neighborhood stay involved with police in their efforts to prevent these kinds of crimes,” Derge said.

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