2022 Phoenix shooting

At around 8:25{{nbsp}}p.m., Williams was observed on closed-circuit television cameras leaving a Days Inn Motel room that he had booked wearing a tactical vest, riot helmet and gas mask.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.wbrc.com/video/2022/08/30/shooting-outside-hotel-marks-fifth-ambush-style-shooting-phoenix-this-year/ |title=Shooting outside hotel marks fifth ambush-style shooting in Phoenix this year |date=2022-08-30 |language=en |access-date=2024-10-08 |via=www.wbrc.com}}{{Cite web |last=Monroe |first=Michelle |date=August 30, 2022 |title=2 die, 5 injured in Phoenix shooting rampage |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/873916008/?match=1&terms=Isaiah%20Steven%20Williams |access-date=October 8, 2024 |website=Albuquerque Journal (Accessed via Newspapers.com)}} He was also carrying a semi-automatic AR-15–style rifle and Molotov cocktail, both of which would later be used in the attack.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=AZFamily Digital News |last2=staff |first2=Gray News |date=2022-08-29 |title=3 people dead in shooting, including suspect; 2 Phoenix police officers hurt |url=https://www.wlox.com/2022/08/29/2-people-dead-hotel-shooting-including-suspect-2-phoenix-police-officers-hurt/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=WLOX |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Massie |first=Graeme |title=Gunman in tactical gear kills two people and wounds five in Phoenix shooting |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/gunman-shooting-phoenix-arizona-police-b2155272.html |access-date=October 8, 2024 |website=Independent}} At 8:28 p.m., Williams was observed exiting the lobby of the motel, and immediately began to open fire on vehicles and buildings in his vicinity.{{Cite web |title=Critical Incident Briefing: August 28th, 2022 – 2600 W Deer Valley Rd |url=https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/police/2475 |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=www.phoenix.gov |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-08-29 |title=Two civilians killed, two Phoenix officers injured in shooting near 27th Avenue and Deer Valley Road |url=https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/north-phoenix/pd-two-phoenix-officers-injured-in-shooting-near-35th-avenue-and-deer-valley-road |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV) |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-01 |title=Guest describes terrifying moments surrounding mass shooting at Phoenix hotel |url=https://ktvz.com/cnn-regional/2022/09/01/guest-describes-terrifying-moments-surrounding-mass-shooting-at-phoenix-hotel/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=KTVZ (CNN Regional) |language=en-US}}

File:2022_Phoenix_shooting_CCTV.jpg

Seconds after shooting at random, a white car pulled into the motel parking lot and parked. Williams approached the vehicle, which had five occupants, and began systematically shooting through the windows, killing the driver and one other person. The three other occupants ran off, and were uninjured in the shooting.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-01 |title=Guest describes terrifying moments surrounding mass shooting at Phoenix hotel |url=https://kion546.com/cnn-regional/2022/09/01/guest-describes-terrifying-moments-surrounding-mass-shooting-at-phoenix-hotel/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=KION546 (CNN Regional) |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Nicole |date=2022-09-15 |title=New reports reveal background of north Phoenix mass shooting suspect |url=https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/new-reports-reveal-background-of-north-phoenix-mass-shooting-suspect |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=FOX 10 Phoenix |language=en-US}}

After shooting at the car, Williams stepped back and continued to walk around the parking lot, shooting at vehicles and other structures at random. Williams discharged at least 12 rounds from his rifle during this phase of the shooting, which was also caught on video. Williams then walked towards an occupied restaurant and lit the Molotov cocktail before throwing it at one of the restaurant's windows,{{Cite web |date=2022-08-29 |title=A gunman clad in tactical gear and armed with a semi-automatic rifle killed 2 and injured 5 others in Phoenix shooting, police say |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/29/us/phoenix-shooting-gunman-tactical-gear-rifle/index.html |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=CNN |language=en}} although the window did not break. After the Molotov cocktail failed to explode, Williams encountered multiple bystanders who were observing the shooting, but he did not let off any shots.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-29 |title=2 die, 5 injured in Phoenix shooting rampage; suspect dead |url=https://apnews.com/article/shootings-phoenix-66dc9c6635fbbe6f7735068483eebb42 |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-09 |title=Phoenix police share chilling video from shooting rampage |url=https://apnews.com/article/shootings-phoenix-9bfe1e54fd882e510d8aa6fb6217528a |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=AP News |language=en}}

Williams continued to walk around the parking lot for several minutes, firing several shots, many of which hit observers of the shooting. Police arrived at the scene of the shooting at around the same time, and were immediately hit with gunfire when they stepped out of their patrol vehicle. Both officers in the vehicle were injured, but none of the injuries were fatal.{{Cite web |title=US: Police response to Aug. 28 shooting continues in north Phoenix, Ariz., early Aug. 29 /update 1 |url=https://crisis24.garda.com/alerts/2022/08/us-police-response-to-aug-28-shooting-continues-in-north-phoenix-ariz-early-aug-29-update-1 |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=US: Police response to Aug. 28 shooting continues in north Phoenix, Ariz., early Aug. 29 /update 1 {{!}} Crisis24 |language=en}} One of the officers shot at Williams, although he was not hit.{{Cite web |last=Sarbak |first=Marissa |date=2022-08-28 |title=Security footage, 911 call: Phoenix Police release video of mass shooter before he takes his own life |url=https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/phoenix-police-officer-involved-shooting-investigation-underway-near-i-17 |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=FOX 10 Phoenix |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=ADI Staff |date=2022-09-10 |title=Phoenix Police Release Video Of Shooting That Left 3 Dead, 2 Officers Hurt |url=https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2022/09/09/phoenix-police-release-video-of-shooting-that-left-3-dead-2-officers-hurt/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Arizona Daily Independent |language=en}}

A short time later the gunfire ceased and police walked up to Williams, who had killed himself with his rifle.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-10 |title=Video shows gunman fire dozens of rounds in fatal Phoenix rampage |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/video-shows-gunman-fire-dozens-rounds-fatal-phoenix-rampage-rcna47128 |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=NBC News |language=en}} During a later investigation, it was revealed that Williams also had several stun grenades in his possession, which were unused in the shooting.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-14 |title=Video shows suspect’s fatal rampage that wounded 2 Phoenix officers |url=https://www.police1.com/officer-shootings/articles/video-shows-suspects-fatal-rampage-that-wounded-2-phoenix-officers-RhjPVaUJZ067NtPL/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Police1 |language=en-US}} It was also revealed that the assailant discharged his rifle nearly 200 times during the skirmish.{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Allison Brown, Foothills Focus Staff |date=2022-09-14 |title=Police release shooting video, audio |url=https://www.thefoothillsfocus.com/news/police-release-shooting-video-audio/article_0e2c1330-33a1-11ed-ac85-afa7bf3dfce9.html |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=The Foothills Focus |language=en}}

File:2022 Phoenix shooting parking lot attack.webp

Williams killed two people; they were identified as Karla Garzona and Misael Arévalo, both of whom were inside of a vehicle that Williams shot into.{{cite web|access-date=2023-01-05 |date=August 28, 2022 |language=en-US |title=Victims in Phoenix shooting rampage identified |url=https://www.12news.com/article/news/crime/officers-shot-in-phoenix/75-b82bdff4-f926-4a6e-931d-f16b92b4a394 |website=12news.com}}{{Cite news |last=Vandell |first=Perry |date=September 2, 2022 |title=Victims' names released in shooting that killed 3, injured 5 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/880021442/?match=1&terms=Isaiah%20Steven%20Williams |archive-url= |access-date=October 8, 2024 |work=The Arizona Republic (Accessed via Newspapers.com) |pages=A20}} Five others, including three civilians and two police officers, were wounded by gunfire. One of the officers was shot in the shoulder, while the second was hit by shrapnel "in several places." The officer who was shot in the shoulder was sent to a hospital, while the three civilians were released without needed extensive medical treatment.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Phoenix Police Department investigated Williams' motive. An internal investigation determining the legality of the officers' actions was carried out by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, although the results of the investigation have not been made public.{{Cite web |last=Bradley |first=Ben |author2=AZFamily Digital News Staff |date=2022-09-13 |title=Report: Gunman involved in shootout with police had been affected by recent events |url=https://www.azfamily.com/2022/09/13/police-report-sheds-new-light-phoenix-shooting-that-left-3-dead-2-officers-wounded/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=AZ Family |language=en}}

The Phoenix Police Department identified the shooter as Isaiah Steven Williams, who was 24 at the time of the shooting. Williams had graduated with a film studies degree from the Arizona State University prior the shooting, but was struggling to find a job.{{cite web|access-date=October 8, 2024 |date=September 12, 2022 |language=en-US |title=Why did he do it? Report highlights Phoenix rampage shooter's motive |url=https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/why-did-he-do-it-report-highlights-phoenix-rampage-shooter-isaiah-williams-motive/75-57e2c708-e5cb-43e8-84ec-1b536f8d1a71 |website=12news.com}} Although Williams had once expressed interest in becoming a police officer or soldier, he began posting anti-police and anti-government messages on several social media platforms in 2020, calling both systems "corrupt." In April 2022, Williams' parents, concerned that he might harm himself, confiscated multiple weapons from him, including an AR-15–style rifle and a handgun. Several weeks before the shooting, Williams sold his car; and on the day of the shooting, he had expressed to a friend his desire to fight for the Kurdish forces in Iraq because "he wanted to fight for something." In those text messages, Williams has also recommended a book called The Destruction of Black Civilization.

• Phoenix freeway shootings, a series of shootings in 2015.
• 2022 Bend, Oregon shooting, occurred on the same day.

{{Reflist}}

{{Mass shootings in the United States in the 2020s}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phoenix shooting, 2022}}

Category:2022 in Arizona

Category:2022 mass shootings in the United States

Category:2022 murders in the United States

Category:August 2022 crimes in the United States

Category:Deaths by firearm in Arizona

Category:Mass shootings in Arizona

Category:Murder–suicides in the United States

Category:Suicides by firearm in Arizona