Justice Parton, 22, was shot and killed inside a Peoria home near Clara Lane, close to 91st Avenue and Beardsley Road, on Thursday morning, May 21, 2026. Her cousin, 23‑year‑old Nickolas Izaiha Benson, was arrested at the scene and charged with first‑degree murder and multiple felonies.
Police said they received reports of a shooting around 9:30 a.m. and arrived to find several people outside the residence. Benson emerged from the home armed with a firearm and appeared to be in crisis. Officers reported that he held the weapon to his head before they used a less‑lethal beanbag round to disarm him and take him into custody. Inside the home, detectives found Parton dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
Two other people were inside the home at the time but were not injured. Detectives confirmed that Benson and Parton were cousins. Witnesses later told investigators that Benson had video‑called them after the shooting, allegedly showing Parton’s body and threatening to kill himself. Some witnesses claimed Benson said Parton had told him to kill her, though police have not verified that account.
Court records show Benson was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on charges including first‑degree murder, manslaughter, and weapons offenses. His bond was set at $1 million. Detectives noted that Benson smelled of alcohol when detained, and he reportedly told officers he did not know what had happened.
The Peoria Police Department emphasized that there was no ongoing threat to the public following Benson’s arrest. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances leading up to the shooting, including Benson’s mental state and possible substance use.
Parton’s death has left her family and community grieving the sudden loss of a young woman. Vigils are expected to be organized in her memory, while prosecutors prepare formal charges against Benson as the case moves through Maricopa County’s criminal justice system.
