PHOENIX — For the last week, 12News has continued to investigate what happened to 51-year-old Paul Franco, who was shot and killed in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Phoenix on the Fourth of July. His girlfriend is now calling on Phoenix police to charge the woman who shot him multiple times, despite her claims that she was acting in self-defense.
12News is not naming the woman asserting a self-defense claim because she has not been charged with a crime.
'We threw eggs, and they threw rocks at us.'
In an exclusive interview, Stephanie Renteria said she and Franco walked to Steele Indian School Park that evening to watch the fireworks show at the Fabulous Phoenix Fourth event. An argument between Franco and several pro-Palestinian protestors ensued.
After Phoenix police broke up the argument, Renteria and Franco returned to their apartment, The Lex on Central, about a block north of the fireworks show. The demonstrators followed them and the verbal sparring continued.
“We threw eggs, and they threw rocks at us. And after they threw rocks, some of them jumped the wall," Renteria said.
She said multiple people followed a car onto the apartment's private property. Renteria was punched by an unknown female who was with the group of demonstrators, she said.
“I just remember a lady coming up to me, and she said, 'You threw a f’ing egg at me,' and then she hit me," Renteria said.
Police say one person was stabbed in the physical altercation inside the parking lot. A woman then shot and killed Franco. In an interview with police, she said she fired upon him in self-defense. Renteria is adamant that Franco did not fire his gun first, and was gunned down while defending her life.
“It was them, it was them that fired first. I just remember a black shadow just walking up to Paul and then shooting him," Renteria said.
'Don't be going to these protests.'
12News has learned Phoenix police served a search warrant at an apartment in Phoenix where the woman claiming self-defense lives with her father. The warrant was served in the early morning hours of July 5 and is concerning the homicide investigation of Franco.
The woman's father, David, spoke to 12News about what the Phoenix police officers told him when they broke his windows and the lock on his front door.
“You don't tell me nothing. You do this and you break my windows. Why? He goes, 'There's been a homicide.' That's all he would say," David said.
12News asked David what his daughter told him happened on the night of July 4.
“No, she don't tell me nothing. Said there was an incident. That's all," David said. “I told her, don't be going to these protests. You know, there's no benefit in it. There's nothing to gain, just trouble. And she won't listen."
At the end of the conversation, 12News asked him to speak with his daughter. He encouraged us to walk around to the back of their apartment, where his daughter was just arriving home.
When we asked for comment, the woman would not get out of her car and drove away. Her attorney said they would not comment on the shooting because it is an active and ongoing investigation.
12News has learned this woman is one of over a dozen people suing Phoenix police for falsely arresting them during a Black Lives Matter protest in October 2020. That lawsuit is ongoing and has not gone to trial.
Renteria said she wants this woman to be charged with murder and has serious questions about her claiming self-defense. She also wants accountability for the assault she endured, leaving her with bruises up and down her arms and to her left eye.
“People could just come into your property and claim self-defense. It's scary," Renteria said. "I want the people that assaulted us to be charged. I want some type of justice."
Phoenix police are continuing to review surveillance video, cell-phone videos and are interviewing witnesses. 12News submitted a public records request for the videos and the recorded interview with the woman claiming self-defense. They have not provided any videos to us.
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