ICYMI: Man Killed Wife, Daughters In West Phoenix: Police

PHOENIX, AZ — A Phoenix man is in custody after shooting six people, four of whom died, police say, in a jealousy-fueled rage Thursday night over a suspected extramarital affair. The man's wife, two of their daughters, and the man he believes his wife was having an affair with were all killed, according to police.

Sgt. Tommy Thompson, the department's spokes person, said it had been a long night for Phoenix police.

Around 8:20 p.m. Thursday, police responded to the 3600 block of N. 39th Avenue on a shots fired call. When they arrived, they heard more shots being fired, Thompson told reporters.

While investigating, police found a 46-year-old man dead on the scene. They also found a 47-year-old woman, believed to be the deceased man's relative, with multiple gunshot wounds. She's in critical condition. Another man was found on the scene with a gunshot wound, but that injury was not as critical.

Police were told the shooter may have been in a vehicle that had left the area. They pulled the vehicle over and took the driver, a 30-year-old man, into custody without incident.

One of the victims was concerned for the suspect's family, so they went to do a welfare check on them in the 7100 block of W. Minnezona, Thompson told reporters. They arrived to find a grim scene.

The man's wife, 29, and two of their daughters, ages 5 and 7, were dead. Thompson didn't reveal the causes of death, but said police believe the man they arrested shot and killed them. Their other daughter, 3, was found by police under a bed, the only one not shot.

Police haven't released any identities, pending next of kin notification.

When investigators interviewed the suspect, he claimed "in God's eyes it was alright for him to deal with someone in this manner," who had been involved in adultery, Thompson said.

See Sgt. Tommy Thompson's interview with reporters.

Patch will update this article as more information becomes available.