BREAKING: 15-Year-Olds Arrested in Shocking Valenzuela Murder Case

Maricopa Police Department has confirmed the ages and genders of two children arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Esteban Valenzuela. The incident occurred on November 22, 2024, in the Maricopa Meadows area.

The arrests took place on November 27, during a SWAT-assisted operation at a Villages home and a high-risk traffic stop at the Sonoran Creek Marketplace. The suspects, a 15-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, are now in custody.

MPD spokesperson Monica Williams stated that the investigation remains active and did not confirm whether the suspected shooter was among those detained. She also refrained from disclosing the specific charges against the three children involved.

Earlier reports confirmed another arrest: a 16-year-old boy was taken into custody on the same day. Police had responded to the shooting incident on West Dirk Street shortly before 7:15 p.m. on November 22, finding Valenzuela critically injured. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

According to a police statement issued on November 28, the investigation suggests that the shooting involved a group of juveniles and young adults. The growing issue of youth violence is underscored by statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics, indicating a rise in homicide rates among individuals aged 15 to 19, which surpassed suicide rates in 2020 for the first time in a decade.