Adult Killed, Teen Injured at Phoenix Halloween Party
A 24-year-old man was killed and a teen was injured when gunfire broke out at a Halloween Party in west Phoenix, according to recent reports. Police say that the party, which was held at a residence near 67th Avenue and Van Buren, included as many as 400 people, many of whom attempted to flee when an unknown suspect began firing a weapon. The 24-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while a youth was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his lower body. Police continue to investigate the shooting, with some witnesses claiming that partygoers were advised to “duck for cover” just prior to the shots ringing out.
Gun Crimes in Arizona
There were 222 homicides involving firearms in Arizona in 2011, according to statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 2014, one official noted that Arizona is the 11th worst state in the US for firearm violence, based on homicides alone. Arizona residents over 21 are not required to obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm, although those with prior criminal backgrounds may be limited on their right to own a firearm legally. Furthermore, business owners can restrict the right of patrons to bring a gun onto their premises. Arizona law mandates strict penalties for those who are found guilty of gun-related crimes. The specific crimes charged against an individual for illegally possessing or using a gun vary from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the nature of the violation. In general, when someone uses a gun to intimidate, frighten or harm another person, the penalties will be much stricter than those for a minor possession violation. However, gun crimes are not always charged in isolation. In some cases, the use of a firearm can enhance the penalties of another crime. For example, threatening a store clerk with a gun may raise the crime of robbery to aggravated robbery, particularly if the clerk is injured in the hold-up. Similarly, domestic violence charges are often misdemeanors; however, an individual may be charged with a felony if he or she threatens a partner with a gun. If you have been charged with any type of gun crime, it is important to take the situation seriously. The criminal defense attorneys at the Oswalt Law Group are ready to help. Call today for a consultation about your case and learn more.