In brief
An Arizona jury has convicted 43-year-old Cleophus Cooksey Jr. on eight counts of murder stemming from a string of shootings that took place over three weeks in 2017, resulting in the deaths of multiple victims, including his mother and stepfather. The court is set to begin the sentencing phase, where prosecutors are advocating for the death penalty. Cooksey maintains his innocence, claiming the charges are false accusations, yet the evidence presented revealed a chilling pattern of violence.
Phoenix (AP) — An Arizona jury convicted a man Thursday on eight murder charges for a string of fatal shootings in metro Phoenix over a three-week span in 2017.
The jury in Phoenix also found Cleophus Cooksey Jr., 43, guilty of crimes including kidnapping, sexual assault, and armed robbery. The sentencing portion of the trial begins Monday, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.
The victims in Phoenix and nearby Glendale included Cooksey’s mother and stepfather, a security guard on his way to his girlfriend’s apartment, and a woman whose body was found in an alley after being sexually assaulted. Authorities noted that while Cooksey was familiar with some victims, he was not acquainted with others.
Cooksey maintained that the allegations against him were false, lowering his gaze at the defense table as the verdict was announced.
Adriana Rodriguez, daughter of victim Maria Villanueva, wept upon hearing the verdict. She expressed, “He took my mom, the only support system that I had,” outside the courtroom.
The deadly spree commenced just four months after Cooksey’s release from prison for a prior manslaughter conviction related to a 2001 robbery.
A friend of Cooksey’s family mentioned that the defendant deserves a death sentence, stating, “He’s a monster, and I hope they put him to sleep.”
The series of murders began on November 27, 2017, when Parker Smith and Andrew Remillard were shot inside their vehicle. Over the following weeks, multiple other victims were shot, culminating in the strangling of his own mother and stepfather at their home on December 17, 2017.
Despite the severe nature of the accusations and evidence linking Cooksey to the crimes, he continues to assert his innocence, describing himself as a music artist in a letter to a judge.
This case recalls earlier fears in Phoenix, where previous serial shooters induced a climate of fear, leading people to avoid certain areas. However, Cooksey's killings gained little initial attention until his arrest drew media scrutiny.