Phoenix Man Faces Justice: Sentenced for Deadly Assault in 'The Zone'

In a tragic case that shocked the Phoenix community, a man has been sentenced to serve over four decades behind bars for his role in the 2023 murder of Geoffrey Rugwiro.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced on Friday that Dave Dinkins was handed a 42-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and kidnapping. Rugwiro was brutally beaten to death on March 21, 2023, with his body later found burned in a dumpster near 11th Avenue and Madison Street, an area known as “The Zone.”

Authorities utilized surveillance footage that captured Dinkins leading Rugwiro to a secluded corner where blood was subsequently discovered. Reports indicate Dinkins later pushed the victim’s remains into a shopping cart, disposing of them in a dumpster before setting it ablaze.

Police uncovered incriminating text messages during their investigation that linked Dinkins to the crime, further solidifying their case against him. A relative of Rugwiro testified in court, describing him as a “beacon of hope” for their family, who had escaped genocide in Rwanda.

“This defendant showed an unimaginable level of cruelty and an immense disregard for the victim’s life,” Mitchell stated. “For too many years, ‘The Zone’ was a hotbed of crime and violence, plaguing those living and working in and around it. Everyone in Maricopa County deserves to feel safe in our community. My office is dedicated to ensuring those who threaten that safety and security are held accountable.”