Goodyear police seek public’s help in teen homicide case
Investigators say footage from the house party where 19-year-old Jaguar Williams was fatally shot is circulating online but has not been shared with police
Photo courtesy/Goodyear Police
Jaguar Williams during a February 2024 visit to Wildlife World Zoo. Williams, 19, died after being shot Aug. 15 at a house party in Goodyear.
Photo courtesy/Goodyear Police
Jaguar Williams, right, poses with his maternal grandmother, who raised him from age 5 after his mother died, in 2018.
Photo courtesy/Goodyear Police
Jaguar Williams, seated in the center, poses with family members and pets at Christmas in 2018.
Photo courtesy/Goodyear Police
Jaguar Williams smiles for a portrait on his first day of high school in 2022.
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It’s been over a month now and we’re waiting for that one call, that one tip, and we're going to work it regardless of how insignificant it may be.”
Goodyear police are asking the public to submit photos, videos or information regarding an Aug. 15 house party where 19-year-old Jaguar Williams was fatally shot, with a reward of up to $10,000 available for information leading to an arrest.
Police said the party was advertised on social media and drew about 100 people from across the Valley, including Queen Creek and Scottsdale. Investigators said attendees recorded an altercation that preceded the shooting and have seen images of people holding up their phones as it unfolded.
“We’ve seen clips of people holding up phones right at the time that this took place; however that information has not been shared with us," Goodyear Sgt. Mayra Reeson said.
Goodyear Police Chief Brian Issitt said detectives have pursued leads since Williams’ death, but need more information to advance the investigation.
“No piece of information is too small,” Issitt said. “What may seem insignificant to you could be the piece of evidence that helps us understand what happened and identify the suspect responsible.”
Officers responded just after 1:50 a.m. Aug. 15 to numerous reports of gunfire near West Sells Drive and Turney Avenue. They arrived to find people fleeing on foot and in vehicles.
Police said an altercation occurred in front of the home as the party was ending, followed by gunfire. Investigators believe multiple people fired weapons.
According to police, Williams and his girlfriend became separated as people fled. They reunited after the gunfire stopped and left in her vehicle.
When Williams' girlfriend realized he had been shot, she flagged down a responding officer near Loop 303 and West Indian School Road. Officers rendered aid before Williams was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
Williams’ maternal grandmother, who asked not to be named because of privacy concerns, said she had raised him since he was five, after his mother died.
She described him as kind and compassionate, and said he planned on studying business at Arizona State University.
“Someone knows what happened. Someone knows who killed him,” she said. “Our family deserves answers. Jaguar deserves justice. Please do not stay silent.”
Goodyear Police Detective Mike Fisher, who works with Silent Witness, a nonprofit that allows people to anonymously submit tips to law enforcement, said tips are encrypted and police do not receive any identifying information about tipsters. He pleaded with the public to send any information they may have.
“It’s been over a month now, and we’re waiting for that one call, that one tip, and we're going to work it regardless of how insignificant it may be,” Fisher said.
Tips can be submitted anonymously at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377) or silentwitness.org. Videos can be uploaded through the Police Department’s secure evidence portal.
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