Scary Criminal Best Buy Shooting
According to reports, there was a deadly shooting at Best Buy in Avondale. The criminal from the shooting has died.
The Avondale police said that, twenty-seven year old, Henry Cota Jr. passed away from his injuries on Tuesday.
The police will continue to investigate the double shooting at the Avondale shopping center which happened on Monday.
The reports say that the call came around noon and it was for the Best Buy off of Interstate 10 which is near 99th Avenue and McDowell Road.
The Avondale Police Department showed up at the Best Buy and there was one man and one woman injured inside of the store, both from gunshot wounds. Both of those victims were transferred to hospitals.
The woman died from her wounds on Monday.
Best Buy said that the woman who passed away was actually one of the store’s Team Members. She was only twenty-six years old and her name was Melissa Mendez.
According to the investigation, there seems to be a history of domestic violence between Cota and Melissa. Cota has actually been outside of Melissa’s house waiting for her before. He was apparently very violent and stalkers with her.
Cota and Melissa have two children together. Apparently they had reconciled and tried to co-parent together for their children, however there was an “instability” in the home. This was in 2015 court records.
Present day, Melissa had moved on and Cota wasn’t taking it well.
Best Buy released a statement to ABC15 which read:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and children of Melissa Mendez after she was senselessly shot and killed on Monday. Domestic violence has no place in our society, and this tragic event is an example of how destructive it can be. Melissa, an employee at our Avondale store for more than seven years, was well-liked by her colleagues and great at her job. Counseling has been made available for our employees. Our Avondale store remains closed at this time.”
Phoenix Criminal Threats Lawyer
Criminal Defense Cases
Formerly referred to as terroristic threats, the crime of criminal threats may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony offense, depending on case specifics. A criminal threat occurs when an individual threatens to kill or injure another person and that person has a reasonably sustained fear for his or her safety, or the safety of his or her immediate family. A defendant may potentially be convicted of making criminal threats even if he or she did not intend to carry out the threat, provided that the alleged victim had a reasonable basis to fear for his or her safety.
Arrest in Phoenix for Criminal Threats
If you have been arrested for making a criminal threat, it is critical that you protect your rights by retaining an experienced criminal defense attorney. For a vigorous defense, contact the Law Offices of Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC immediately.
Arizona prosecutors have considerable discretion to charge criminal threats offenses as a misdemeanor or a felony. If you are convicted of a misdemeanor criminal threat, harassment or stalking offense, you could face up to one year in county jail. If you are convicted of a felony criminal threats offense, you could face up to four years in state prison. You could face significantly greater penalties if you used a firearm or other dangerous weapon while making criminal threats.
Types of Criminal Threats
A Criminal Threat is a strike offense, which means that you could face significantly enhanced penalties if you are convicted of a future felony. Even a nonviolent felony could result in twice the prison sentence if you have a prior strike offense. A third strike could result in a prison sentence of 25 years to life.
Criminal Threats Defensive Strategy
There are many ways that our skilled Phoenix Defense Attorneys can raise a strong defense on your behalf. First, we will examine the facts of the case to determine if the prosecution has enough evidence to obtain a conviction. In particular, we will look at any evidence of the alleged communication. Does the prosecution have copies of an email or voicemail? If the state has nothing more than a he-said-she said case, the prosecution will have a tougher time proving its case.
Taking Your Criminal Threats Case to Trial
Even if the prosecution has evidence of the alleged communication, we will examine the nature of the communication. Was the threat a serious one? In other words, did the alleged victim actually fear for his or her safety and was he or she reasonable to have such fear? The prosecution does not have to prove that you intended to carry out the threat, or even that you had the current ability to carry out the threat. However, the prosecution must establish that the threat you made is the type that would have caused the defendant to have a reasonable fear.
If you choose to take your case to trial, we offer skilled Phoenix trial lawyers who will aggressively defend your rights in the courtroom. If you do not want to fight your charges at trial, we can negotiate with the prosecution to seek a favorable plea agreement. Depending on the facts of your case, we may be able to help you keep this off of your record. If that is not possible, we can seek a plea to a lesser offense, including a non-strike offense, or we can seek an agreement on sentencing that will limit the penalties you face. With a team of former prosecutors, the skilled attorneys at the Phoenix Offices of Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC are highly adept at finding creative solutions for their clients.
Schedule a Free Consultation – Phoenix Criminal Threats Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been accused of a Violent Crime such as a Terrorist Threat, contact a Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyer Today to Schedule a Free Consultation. With a wealth of expertise, a commitment to integrity and a passion for defense, the Attorneys at Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC – Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyers – are here to support you with your case. We believe every defendant has the right to.
Criminal Defense Lawyers PLLC
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