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In addition, Phoenix police have arrested a suspect in the case.
While Phoenix police named the girl as Summerbell Brown, the GoFundMe and other media outlets have since identified the girl as Summer Mellody Bell Brown.
Once home near 35th Avenue and Roosevelt Street, Summer’s father confronted the driver of the other vehicle. However, that man started shooting towards the family vehicle, striking the father and Summer. She died but her father survived and was seen at his home Thursday morning.
Late Thursday, Phoenix police worked a tip and found the suspect vehicle near 63rd Avenue and Indian School Road.
Detectives located and identified Joshua Gonzalez, 20, as a suspect in the shooting. He appeared in court Friday afternoon.
“I hope that he suffers as much as we do,” Taniesha Brown told the Associated Press as she stood outside her home, steps away from their car, which had several bullet holes. “Not only did he ruin our lives, he ruined his life as well. He’s going to have to live with this the rest of his life — if he has a conscience.”
Mr. Gonzalez was booked into jail in lieu of a $1 million cash-only bond on one count of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault.
Phoenix police Chief Jeri Williams spoke on the case Friday morning, commending the tireless efforts of all agencies involved, which included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs and Firearms.
Joshua Gonzalez (MCSO)
“It truly takes a team in order to make this happen,” Ms. Williams said. “These men and women came together to work this case, some of whom have not slept since the day of the incident or have barely gone home to sleep.”
Court records released Friday afternoon indicate Mr. Gonzalez went to work the day after the shooting, albeit in a different vehicle. A tipster told police employees at Mr. Gonzalez’s work wore bright-orange shirts similar to what the suspect wore.
“The tipster described Joshua as being fascinated by guns and Joshua was known to carry a handgun with him,” records state.
Mr. Gonzalez reportedly left work around the same time police sent out a bulletin on his truck.
The tips ultimately led authorities five miles from the crime scene to the area of 63rd Avenue and Indian School Road, where they identified and arrested Mr. Gonzalez. Police found the firearm in the garage of a home, linking it to the crime scene.
Police said the suspect changed out the tires of the truck that fled the crime scene. The vehicle also had damage on the left rear.
Mr. Gonzalez denied involvement in the shooting, saying he was nowhere near the Brown’s home and that his truck model is very common.
He has an extended violent criminal history with the department, police said. Online records indicate he was arrested in June 2018 on counts of DUI, misconduct involving weapons and operating a watercraft after drinking.
Mayor Kate Gallego also spoke on the matter, thanking Phoenix police, the ATF and the city’s residents.
“When something happens in our community, particularly too a child, the people of phoenix step up,” Ms. Gallego said.
Sgt. Vincent Lewis, a spokesman for Phoenix police, said Summer’s family had just arrived home when a pickup truck pulled up to their residence. Police said it appeared the driver of the vehicle Summer was in had cut off the truck in traffic and it followed them to their home.
“It was great to see the entire Phoenix community really activated and share the information,” Mr. Lewis said. “Everybody had their eyes out and were giving us plenty of information.”
The Daily News-Sun learned a man had been receiving death threats after some people shared a side-by-side photo of him and the suspect sketch, believing the man to be the suspect.
Mr. Lewis told the DNS those concerns were not brought to his attention.
“I encourage folks with information about crimes to contact law enforcement directly with that information and avoid such behavior,” he said.
The family planned to hold a vigil Friday night in front of their home. Summer was a fifth-grader who loved dancing, singing and gymnastics. She loved school and made the honor roll every quarter, according to her mother.
Joshua Gonzalez (MCSO)
