Family of Larry Milligan calls for de-escalation after 2020 central Phoenix road-rage killing and conviction

Four years after a fatal road-rage shooting, relatives return to a central Phoenix corridor with a warning

The family of Larry Milligan, who was shot and killed in central Phoenix in September 2020, has made its first public appeal urging drivers to de-escalate confrontations on the road, citing the speed with which an ordinary traffic encounter turned lethal.

Milligan, 39, was driving on 7th Avenue near Interstate 17 when he was shot in the head during what prosecutors described as a road-rage incident. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Relatives have said Milligan is survived by his wife—described as his high school sweetheart—who has been raising their three children since his death.

What investigators and court records say happened

Case records describe surveillance footage showing Steven Orona pulling alongside Milligan’s vehicle and firing through an open window before leaving the area. Police later located Orona’s vehicle at property connected to his girlfriend in Buckeye.

Investigators have also documented statements and testimony indicating the girlfriend was in the vehicle during the shooting and later helped conceal the SUV after recognizing it in news coverage. She later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of tampering with physical evidence and received a one-year probation sentence.

In a recorded law enforcement interview cited in court filings, Orona told investigators he did not call 911 after the shooting, saying he wanted to see his children and spend the evening rather than deal with police.

Arrest, trial outcome, and sentence

Orona was arrested in November 2020 after investigators developed probable cause in the weeks following the shooting. Prosecutors pursued charges including first-degree murder and drive-by shooting.

A jury later convicted Orona of first-degree murder and drive-by shooting. In July 2025, he was sentenced to life in prison.

The family’s message: avoid escalation and leave the situation

On Feb. 20, 2026, Milligan’s relatives appeared publicly to share their account of the lasting impact of the case and to call for strategies that reduce the risk of violence during traffic disputes. Their message focused on choosing distance over engagement—leaving the area, not responding to provocation, and prioritizing safety over argument.

• Road-rage disputes can escalate in seconds, with consequences that outlast the moment.
• Separating from the conflict—by changing routes or creating distance—can reduce risk.
• Families affected by these incidents often face long-term financial and emotional strain, particularly when children lose a parent.

Milligan’s case moved from a brief roadway exchange to a homicide investigation, a life sentence, and a family left navigating grief and parenting alone.

The family said its decision to speak now is aimed at prevention: reducing the chance that other drivers and families experience a similar outcome.