Charges Against Thomas Crew Elevated to Premeditated Murder Following Victim Identification

Charges against Thomas Ray Crew for the Rancho Mirage shooting of Nereira Crew have been elevated to first-degree premeditated murder, according to Pinal County Superior Court records.

Initially charged with attempted murder for the May 15 incident, the decision to upgrade the charges follows an indictment filed on May 21. The reasons for this change remain unclear, especially since Nereira Crew survived the attack but sustained severe injuries, as confirmed by Maricopa police.

The shooting occurred on a Thursday evening, with reports indicating Nereira Crew was shot twice in the head—though police have not verified this detail. Witnesses stated that Thomas Crew emerged from the residence holding a firearm and lay face down in the street until law enforcement apprehended him. Nereira Crew is believed to be his sister-in-law.

In addition to the murder charge, Thomas Crew faces multiple felony charges that include the kidnapping of Aviena Love, a local resident, and another individual identified only by initials. The list of charges also features aggravated assault against Nereira Crew. All charges are classified as domestic violence offenses involving firearms.

Nereira Crew’s background reveals she was an accomplished high school basketball player in Palo Alto, California, in 2000. She held various roles in academia, working at institutions like John Jay College and Alliant International University. Notably, she co-authored a research study in 2009 that examined family dynamics and their effect on educational disparities between Black and White adolescents. Her areas of expertise included education and student development.

Records indicate Nereira Crew resides in Highland, California. A car bearing California plates was reported at the crime scene during the shooting.

Thomas Crew, who recently moved to The Lakes at Rancho El Dorado from Southern California, does not show any significant history of violence based on a review of court records in both states. His LinkedIn profile describes him as a manager of a healthcare company situated in Tempe.

Crew is scheduled for arraignment tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. at the courthouse in Florence.