An Arizona community is in shock after a pregnant 16-year-old girl and her unborn baby were killed in a horrifying triple shooting that police say was carried out by her ex-boyfriend.
Police in Buckeye responded to reports of gunfire outside a home on Elwood Street around 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 14. When officers arrived, they discovered three female victims suffering from gunshot wounds, according to the Buckeye Police Department.
One of the victims, 16-year-old Rylee Montgomery, was pronounced dead at the scene along with her unborn child. A 17-year-old pregnant girl and a 22-year-old woman were rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Investigators said two men were seen running from the area before officers arrived.
Over the next several hours, detectives identified 18-year-old Michael Sanchez — who was reportedly in a romantic relationship with Rylee — as the suspected shooter.
Police tracked Sanchez to a home in Avondale, where he was arrested with help from the United States Marshals Service and Avondale police.
Sanchez has since been charged with multiple felonies, including first-degree murder.
According to a GoFundMe created by Rylee’s family, the injured 17-year-old victim was identified as Rylee’s friend Abby, while the wounded 22-year-old woman was identified as her friend Mya.
The fundraiser revealed Abby was forced to deliver her baby boy at just 25 weeks while hospitalized in critical condition.
Rylee’s stepmother, Amy Montgomery, made disturbing allegations about Sanchez’s behavior leading up to the deadly shooting. In the fundraiser, she claimed he repeatedly threatened Rylee after she became pregnant in February.
“Once he got her pregnant in February, it was all over,” Amy wrote. “After telling her to ‘kill the baby,’ and when she refused, he turned his anger on her, threatening her numerous times.”
Amy also alleged Sanchez physically abused Rylee during their relationship, including choking her at their home after the couple split in March.
“When she broke up with him in March, he decided to point a gun at her face and told her she wasn’t allowed,” she claimed.
According to Amy, Sanchez allegedly threatened Rylee again the day before the shooting because she was out with friends. She believes he intentionally traveled more than 20 miles to target the girls.
“He sent her a picture of himself with a gun pointed at his head and a text telling her, ‘I’m going to get you and then I’m going to take care of myself,’” Amy told local outlet AZ Family.
She said Rylee contacted police after receiving the threat.
“And then three hours later, she was gone,” Amy said. “I definitely think he went there with full intention on killing both Abby and Rylee.”
The Buckeye Police Department later confirmed they had previously received a delayed report involving an alleged domestic violence incident connected to Sanchez before the fatal shooting.
The case remains under investigation.
The pos “boyfriend” sounds like a real scumbag. That’s probably why the victim was attracted to him in the first place!
American women are attracted to the losers!!