What began as a night of celebration following the Super Bowl turned into tragedy in south Phoenix late Sunday, when an argument escalated into gunfire inside an apartment complex on Alta Vista Road, near Seventh and Southern Avenues.
Phoenix police responded around 11:30 p.m. to reports of a shooting and found 35-year-old Isaiah Raymone Springswith a gunshot wound. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but later died early Monday morning, according to police reports.
Detectives later arrested Quinton Denard Pierce, 44, in connection with the shooting. Pierce, who identified himself as a disabled veteran, was booked into jail on charges of second-degree murder and endangerment, with bond set at $1 million.
Investigators say the men had both attended a Super Bowl party earlier in the day, where Springs reportedly argued with the mother of his 2-month-old child. Later that night, Pierce went to a nearby liquor store before receiving a text message from the same woman, asking him to come to her apartment.
When Pierce arrived, a confrontation broke out in the hallway between him and Springs. Pierce told police that he warned Springs not to approach, saying he was an armed security guard. Moments later, Pierce claimed, he fired his weapon “out of instinct” after Springs lunged toward him.
Officers recovered an unloaded Glock handgun and a single spent casing at the scene.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police have not released additional details about what led to the fatal encounter.
