PHOENIX — A Phoenix man who murdered his mother, father and brother after an argument will spend the rest of his life in prison, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced.
Brandon Michael Lujan, 37, was convicted in June for the violent murders and recently sentenced to three natural life sentences without the possibility of release.
The attacks happened in 2021 after Lujan and his wife, Raylien Loest, were kicked out of his parents' home. After they allegedly agreed to discuss the matter later, Lujan's brother got involved in the argument.
Court documents said the brothers ended up in a physical altercation when Lujan took out a handgun from his waist and shot his brother multiple times.
Lujan told investigators he shot his mother and father after they allegedly came out of a bedroom and tried to lunge at him. According to MCAO, Lujan had to enter the home after shooting his brother.
Lujan reportedly fired so many times that he had to pause to reload the gun before he continued shooting. While at the hospital for a twisted ankle the next day, Lujan told staff that he had killed his family members the night before.
"Two of Lujan’s young daughters were in his vehicle the day of the murder, and one heard their father say, 'I’m going to kill them [all]' before hearing gunshots and screaming coming from the home," MCAO said in a press release.
Lujan, a United States Navy veteran, was convicted on three counts of first-degree murder, each a class one dangerous felony.
"To murder your family in such a deliberate, callous manner and express no remorse shows a remarkable lack of humanity," said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. "I am thankful to the prosecutors in this case who ensured this dangerous individual is never released."
Editor's note: This article has been updated as of July 25, 2024 at 5:47 p.m. to reflect corrected information from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
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