The Casa Grande Police Department has made additional arrests in the investigation of a fatal shooting at a house party that claimed the life of 17-year-old Hailey Stephens. On Saturday, police confirmed the arrest of two teenagers, aged 13 and 15, in connection with the incident, which also left another teen injured.
The suspects are currently detained at the Pinal County Juvenile Detention Center, with proposed charges of felony murder pending review by the Pinal County Attorney’s Office. This brings the total arrests to nine in relation to the shooting. Alongside the two recent arrests, four teenagers and 18-year-old Jesiah Amaru Street have been charged with murder, while four others face criminal trespassing charges.
Stephens, a student and cheerleader at Casa Grande Union High School, was tragically shot in the head during the party near Pinal Avenue and O’Neil Drive on November 26. She succumbed to her injuries in the hospital. Another 17-year-old girl was shot in the arm but is expected to recover. The police reported that the party, attended by as many as 60 people, occurred in a vacant house, with around 60 shots fired.
Casa Grande police are actively seeking further information about the shooting and urge anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact Detective Nicholas Elliott at (520) 421-8700 #7 or via email at Nicholas_Elliott@casagrandeaz.gov. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Witness at www.casagrandesilentwitness.com, the P3 App at www.p3tips.com, or by calling (520) 836-2100.
