PHOENIX — Phoenix police have arrested a man and woman in connection with a fatal shooting that happened in west Phoenix over the weekend. Phone records obtained by police show that the woman had been with the victim and was texting the accused shooter just minutes before the incident telling him where they were.
Phoenix police officers responded to the scene near 27th and Northern avenues just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday for the shooting call. Upon arrival, police found 39-year-old Ricardo Villalobos with gunshot wounds.
Villalobos was pronounced dead at the scene by the Phoenix Fire Department.
Witnesses saw Eric Norwood, 41, and the woman, identified as 30-year-old Brenda Beachem, running from the scene, police said. Patrol officers located both and detained them. After witnesses positively identified the pair, Norwood was arrested and days later, Beachem was also arrested.
Beachem told police that she had been in the victim's truck prior to the shooting, according to court documents. She also reportedly told police that she ran from the vehicle when "an unknown person" opened the door and demanded belongings.
Police obtained a search warrant for the pair's cellphones, and found text messages between Beachem and Norwood, court documents show.
At 12:18 a.m., she reportedly sent a message to Norwood stating "I got one." Eight minutes later she texted Norwood to say "we here." At 12:27, Norwood texted her asking if the door was unlocked.
Norwood is facing a first-degree murder charge, as well as other felony charges. Beachem is also facing a murder charge, police said.
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