Tragic Shooting of Pregnant Teen in Arizona
An Arizona teenager, Michael Sanchez, 18, is facing charges after allegedly shooting his pregnant girlfriend, 16-year-old Riley Montgomery, along with two of her friends. This tragic incident unfolded outside a Buckeye home on Thursday evening, shocking Montgomery’s family.
According to reports, Sanchez fired the weapon at 8:15 p.m., resulting in the deaths of Montgomery and her unborn child at the site. The two friends, including another pregnant teen, were taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Riley’s stepmother, Amy, shared on GoFundMe that her daughter suffered at the hands of a controlling partner. She mentioned that Sanchez exhibited violent behavior starting in February, after learning about Riley’s pregnancy. Allegations suggest he pressured her to terminate the pregnancy, leading to multiple threats against her.
Initially, Amy characterized Sanchez as nice and kind, but things turned dark once he discovered Montgomery was expecting. She recounted instances of threats, including one where he allegedly attempted to strangle her. Following a particularly terrifying incident in March, where he reportedly brandished a firearm, Montgomery ended the relationship.
Amy disclosed that her stepdaughter had sought help, feeling immense fear towards Sanchez, but noted that police had been unable to act due to insufficient evidence when they were informed of the alarming threats.
The horrific shooting not only claimed Montgomery’s life but also severely injured her friends. One was struck multiple times, while another gave birth prematurely following the incident. Montgomery’s stepmother described the emotional toll this has taken, lamenting the loss and the aggression her stepdaughter faced.
After fleeing the scene, Sanchez was tracked down at his home in Avondale, about 29 miles away. He was apprehended and is facing multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder. Notably, on the day of the shooting, he was reportedly wearing an ankle monitor due to previous felony probation for drunk driving.
With a court appearance scheduled for next week, the community is left grappling with the aftermath of this devastating event.
