Phoenix police investigate fatal late-night shooting near 25th Avenue and Hazelwood Street in west Phoenix

What happened

Phoenix police are investigating a late-night shooting in west Phoenix that left a man dead after he was found with gunshot wounds near 25th Avenue and Hazelwood Street, an area just south of Camelback Road.

Officers responded shortly before 11 p.m. on Friday, January 16, 2026, after receiving reports of gunfire in the neighborhood. At the scene, officers located a man who had been shot and requested emergency medical care.

Victim identified; no arrests announced

Police identified the victim as 44-year-old Steven Stone Jr. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries. As of the latest public update, authorities had not released information about a suspect description, arrests, or a possible motive.

Investigators remained in the area for several hours to document the scene and collect evidence before the area reopened Saturday morning.

How investigators typically build these cases

In shootings where initial suspect information is limited, detectives commonly work to reconstruct the timeline and movements around the incident. Steps typically include:

• Interviewing nearby residents and potential witnesses who may have heard or seen activity around the time of the shots.
• Searching for private security video from homes and businesses, along with any vehicle camera footage that may capture traffic through the area.
• Reviewing 911 call data and dispatch records to establish a precise sequence of events.
• Processing physical evidence from the scene to determine firing location(s) and the direction of shots.

Context: multiple recent investigations in the Maryvale area

The fatal shooting comes amid other recent police activity in Maryvale and surrounding west Phoenix neighborhoods. On Thursday morning, January 15, 2026, police opened a homicide investigation after a woman’s body was found near 67th Avenue and Highland Avenue, just south of Camelback Road. The case prompted road closures as detectives canvassed nearby homeowners for information and video.

What police are asking from the public

Investigators are asking anyone with information related to the shooting near 25th Avenue and Hazelwood Street to contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO (480-837-8446) for Spanish speakers.

Police have not released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the shooting, and the investigation remains ongoing.