SURPRISE, Ariz. — The suspect accused of shooting a 6-month-old boy multiple times after holding the boy and his mother hostage at their home in Surprise on Friday was confirmed to have died and has been identified by Surprise police.
Police said the man, identified as 51-year-old Todd Christopher Marchetti, broke into the home near Cactus Road and Cotton Lane around 3 a.m. on Friday. He then refused to let either of them leave, but the woman was able to get away and ask for help from a nearby construction crew, who called police around 11:30 a.m.
Officers learned before they arrived at the home that the 6-month-old was still in the home with Marchetti, who is the boy's father.
Once they got to the home, officers heard multiple gunshots but they were quickly able to force their way inside and rescue the child.
The boy, who had been shot multiple times in his legs, was then airlifted to a nearby hospital and underwent surgery. He is critical condition at the hospital, but is expected to be OK.
The officers who went into the home to rescue the boy did not see Marchetti, so SWAT teams from Surprise and Goodyear responded to try and negotiate a "peaceful" end to the hours-long standoff.
However, just after 3 p.m., the home caught fire with the suspect still inside.
The fire was left to burn due to the threat to first responders' safety and the sound of gunfire coming from inside the home, police said on Friday.
Police said Saturday the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Once it was safe for officers to enter the home, they found Marchetti's remains with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The investigation into this case is still ongoing and police are asking anyone who does not live nearby to avoid the area.
The Surprise Police Department will hold a press conference about this case on Monday.
Neighbors whose properties were possibly damaged in the fire are asked to call the Surprise Police Department’s non-emergency number at 623-222-4000.
The Buckeye Police Department will lead this investigation as part of the West Valley Incident Response Team protocols.
Vice Mayor of Surprise Nick Haney asked for the community to pray for the child. A GoFundMe was set up for the family.
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