Oscar Maldonado Jr., 25, was shot in central Phoenix on the afternoon of July 27, 2025. The shooting occurred near Central Avenue and Culver Street at about 2:50 p.m. and Maldonado, who sustained at least one gunshot wound, managed to reach Burton Barr Central Library where he was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and later pronounced deceased.

Phoenix police homicide detectives responded and kept the investigation active as they worked to reconstruct the midday attack. Investigators developed leads in the days after the shooting and on August 1, 2025, announced the arrest of 35-year-old Ray Martinez. Martinez was interviewed and then booked on charges of second-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a prohibited possessor; authorities said they were not seeking any other suspects.

The motive behind the shooting has not been disclosed. Does anyone have information about Maldonado’s activities in central Phoenix that afternoon or saw something near Central and Culver around 2:50 p.m. on July 27?