Family recounts Phoenix mother’s fatal road-rage shooting after minor traffic dispute near Beardsley Road

What is known about the shooting

A Phoenix mother was fatally shot in what police have described as a road-rage incident in north Phoenix after a traffic dispute that began on the roadway and escalated into gunfire. The victim was identified as 38-year-old Stella Montes.

The shooting occurred on Thursday, December 9, 2021, near the intersection of 7th Avenue and Beardsley Road. Investigators said gunfire came from another vehicle and struck Montes while she was driving. After she was shot, her vehicle collided with a wall and came to rest near a sign. She was transported to a hospital and later died from her injuries.

Family’s account of the moments leading up to the attack

Relatives and witnesses have described the confrontation as stemming from a minor driving-related disagreement. In accounts provided publicly after the killing, Montes’ family said the vehicle she was in had interacted with another driver in a way they believe triggered the shooting. A nearby resident who responded after hearing gunshots also recounted being told that honking and an attempt to go around another vehicle may have preceded the gunfire.

Montes’ children later spoke about the family’s loss and urged the shooter to surrender. The family said Montes’ fiancé was in the front passenger seat when the shooting happened. They also said a pregnant family member was in the back seat of the vehicle at the time, underscoring the number of people placed at risk during the incident.

Investigation and case status

In the days following the killing, police said they did not have publicly releasable information about the shooter’s identity or even the suspect vehicle. A separate police update released later in the investigation identified a suspect who was located outside Arizona and was expected to be extradited to Phoenix to face charges that included murder.

Why the case highlights broader road-rage concerns

The killing reflects a recurring pattern in which everyday driving conflicts rapidly intensify. In this case, investigators and family members have consistently described the triggering event as minor, while the outcome was fatal and immediate.

• One person died and additional occupants in the victim’s vehicle were exposed to gunfire.
• The shooting led to a secondary crash when the victim’s vehicle struck a wall.
• The investigation initially proceeded without a publicly identified suspect, prolonging uncertainty for the family.

The victim’s children later described their mother as the center of their family and publicly appealed for the shooter to turn himself in.

The case remains a reminder that confrontations behind the wheel can have consequences extending far beyond the drivers involved, affecting passengers, bystanders, and families left to seek answers after sudden loss.