Early on Thursday morning, January 15, 2026, a violent act unfolded in the Maryvale neighborhood of west Phoenix, leading police to open a homicide investigation. The first call for help came into Phoenix police dispatch at approximately 1:45 a.m., reporting an injured person lying on the side of the road. Officers rushed to the intersection of 67th Avenue and Highland Avenue, located just south of the busy Camelback Road corridor.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a woman who had been shot. The Phoenix Fire Department was summoned to the scene, and responding paramedics pronounced the victim deceased there on the roadway. Investigators determined she had suffered at least one gunshot wound. The following day, Friday, January 16, authorities formally identified the victim as 34-year-old Mariela G. Duarte Gaxiola.
In the immediate aftermath, detectives from the Phoenix Police Department began canvassing the area of 67th Avenue and Highland, speaking with nearby residents in an effort to gather information. Police also closed 67th Avenue in both directions, from Camelback Road to Hazelwood Avenue, for several hours to secure the crime scene and process evidence while the investigation was underway.
The investigation remains active, and police have not released any information regarding a potential suspect or what may have led up to the fatal shooting. Authorities are urging anyone with information, including possible home security or doorbell camera footage from the area around the time of the incident, to come forward. The public can contact the Silent Witness hotline at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO (480-837-8446) for Spanish speakers to submit tips anonymously.
Mariela G. Duarte Gaxiola lived a life touched by the everyday experiences and connections that define existence in Phoenix’s diverse neighborhoods. Her presence contributed to the community’s fabric through personal ties and daily routines amid Arizona’s vibrant urban landscape. She leaves behind a legacy of a life well lived, marked by the quiet resilience and meaning found in shared moments with those around her.
