A heartbreaking discovery disrupted the early morning calm in Phoenix’s Maryvale neighborhood when authorities identified 34-year-old Mariela G. Duarte Gaxiola as the victim of a fatal shooting on January 15, 2026.
Phoenix Police Department officers responded around 1:47 a.m. to reports of an injured person lying on the side of the road near the intersection of 67th Avenue and Highland Avenue, just south of Camelback Road. Upon arrival, responders found Gaxiola suffering from at least one gunshot wound, initiating immediate medical assessment in the dimly lit street surrounded by parked vehicles and quiet households.
The scene quickly transitioned into a homicide investigation as paramedics and officers confirmed the severity of the injuries, pronouncing Gaxiola dead at the location without transport to a hospital. The positioning of her body on the roadway suggested she may have been shot elsewhere and left there or collapsed after the attack, prompting detectives to secure a wide perimeter with yellow tape while documenting evidence under portable lights.
Investigators began canvassing nearby homeowners and businesses door-to-door in the hours following the discovery, seeking doorbell camera footage, security videos, or eyewitness accounts that could reconstruct the timeline leading to the shooting. The intersection’s proximity to major thoroughfares like Camelback Road raised possibilities of passing traffic or quick getaway routes, with detectives emphasizing the value of any recorded audio of gunshots or vehicle descriptions.
The identification of Mariela G. Duarte Gaxiola came the following day through official channels, allowing notification of next of kin while advancing the case classification as a homicide. Preliminary findings focused on the gunshot wound as the cause of death, pending full autopsy results from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine specifics like caliber, trajectory, and number of shots.
No suspect information or motive has been released publicly, maintaining the investigation’s active status as Violent Crimes Bureau detectives pursue leads in what appears to be another instance of gun violence impacting Phoenix communities.
The incident added to ongoing concerns about safety in Maryvale, a densely populated area with historical challenges related to crime, where residents often rely on community vigilance and police presence for security. Authorities urged anyone with information, no matter how small, to contact Silent Witness or submit tips anonymously, highlighting the collaborative effort needed to resolve such cases amid broader efforts to reduce homicides citywide.