The unraveling of a series of fatal shootings in the Phoenix area in 2017 was initiated when authorities responded to a gruesome scene at an apartment, leading to the arrest of a man suspected of murdering his mother and stepfather. Evidence collected at the site connected Cleophus Cooksey Jr. to four additional murders. Investigators discovered a weapon linked to several crimes, a necklace from one of the victims, and car keys belonging to a woman whose partially clothed body was discovered in an alley.
Cooksey’s trial is set to begin on Monday, more than seven years after the incidents, following multiple delays attributed to the pandemic. The 43-year-old faces charges related to the murder of eight individuals in Phoenix and nearby Glendale over a three-week period. If found guilty, prosecutors intend to pursue the death penalty. Cooksey has denied the allegations, maintaining his innocence with a plea of not guilty.
In previous years, two other serial shooting cases in metro Phoenix led to widespread fear, causing residents to avoid certain areas after dark. However, the murders attributed to Cooksey did not receive attention until his apprehension, as they occurred over a shorter time frame.
The sequence of homicides began on November 27, 2017. At that time, Cooksey had been released from prison for only four months after serving a sentence related to a deadly strip club robbery in 2001. The victims included both acquaintances and strangers. Many of the shootings took place during the night, and although no motive was disclosed, authorities assert that Cooksey was responsible.
The initial victims, Parker Smith and Andrew Remillard, were shot while seated in a vehicle in a parking lot. Shortly after, security guard Salim Richards was killed en route to his girlfriend’s apartment. Prosecutors allege that Cooksey engaged in a physical altercation with Richards, subsequently leaving with his gun and necklace. Latorrie Beckford and Kristopher Cameron were murdered in separate incidents at apartment complexes in Glendale. Maria Villanueva, last seen heading to her boyfriend’s apartment, was taken by Cooksey, police claim, and her body was discovered the following day in a Phoenix alley, showing signs of assault and containing Cooksey’s DNA.
The series of crimes culminated on December 17, 2017, when officers responding to a gunfire report encountered Cooksey at his mother’s apartment, which bore signs of violence. Cooksey, claiming a hand injury and being alone, was ultimately arrested after his mother, Rene Cooksey, and stepfather, Edward Nunn, were found dead. Before his arrest, Cooksey allegedly threatened law enforcement officers.
During the investigation, Richards’ firearm was found on a sofa in the apartment, identified as the murder weapon in the deaths of Beckford, Cameron, and Villanueva. Additionally, Villanueva’s car keys were located, and Cooksey was wearing Richards’ necklace at the time of his arrest.
In January 2020, Cooksey communicated with a judge, expressing a strong desire to prove his innocence and insisting the charges against him were false. Describing himself as a musician rather than a criminal, he maintained that he was not involved in the crimes.
Despite his wish for a swift trial, proceedings were delayed due to pandemic-related complications, hindering preparation and expert evaluations. Initial police suspicions regarding Cooksey’s involvement in a ninth murder in December 2017 were not pursued legally, as prosecutors determined a conviction was unlikely.
Cooksey’s arrest followed two other significant cases of serial shootings in the Phoenix area. In late 2015, a series of 11 shootings on freeways left numerous vehicles damaged though no serious injuries occurred. Charges in this case were eventually dropped, leading to a court decision that formally cleared the accused individual.
Another serial shooting case concluded in July 2016, involving bus driver Aaron Juan Saucedo, now facing first-degree murder charges for attacks that resulted in nine deaths. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Saucedo, who has pleaded not guilty, with his trial slated for December.
