A late-night incident on Loop 101 in the Phoenix area has led to a series of serious criminal charges against a 23-year-old woman from Gilbert, after authorities say a man was fatally shot and a vehicle was intentionally set on fire.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, troopers were called to the southbound lanes near Union Hills Drive around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday following reports of a burning car. When they arrived, they found the suspect lying near the driver’s side of a 2012 Nissan Versa, suffering from apparent smoke inhalation. Witnesses at the scene had reportedly pulled her away from the flames before first responders arrived.
Once the fire was extinguished, investigators discovered a man in the front passenger seat who had been shot. A firearm was later recovered from inside the vehicle, and authorities determined the woman had been driving at the time of the shooting.
The suspect, identified as Tana’Sa Chambers, was taken to Banner Thunderbird Medical Center for treatment before being booked into custody. Court records indicate that during interviews with law enforcement, she admitted to shooting the victim, claiming it was part of a mutual plan to end their lives.
Investigators say Chambers told them she purchased the firearm the day before and later drove with the victim along Loop 101. She allegedly described holding the steering wheel with one hand while using the other to fire the weapon at the victim. After stopping the car, she told detectives she attempted to take her own life, but the gun malfunctioned.
Authorities say she then set the vehicle on fire, but was forced to escape due to the intense heat and smoke. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not yet been publicly released, though officials confirmed he was identified through an Arizona driver’s license.
Chambers now faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, arson, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and firearms-related offenses. A judge has set her bond at $1 million cash-only, and she is scheduled to make her initial court appearance on April 29.
The case remains under investigation as officials continue working to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incident.
