On the evening of April 26, 2026, in Yuma, Arizona, 18-year-old Valentin Morales was fatally shot in the 500 block of South 15th Avenue. Police answered a shots-fired call at about 7:48 p.m. and found Morales unresponsive; he was taken to a local hospital and later died. Family described him as a lovable person who had many plans and often brought a smile to those around him.

Witnesses said a white four-door sedan pulled up, multiple shots were fired from the vehicle, and the car then fled southbound. Early witness accounts indicated at least three male occupants in the sedan, and one of the rounds struck Morales. The Yuma Police Department opened a homicide investigation and followed leads over 150 miles to Avondale.

On May 2, 2026, with assistance from Tempe, Glendale, and Avondale police, three 18-year-old suspects — Julius Avery Johnson, Antwan De'Shawn Yancey, and Moises Murillo, all from Yuma — were arrested and are facing multiple felony counts including first-degree murder. The investigation remains active as detectives continue gathering evidence. If anyone witnessed the shooting or saw the white sedan before or after the incident, can you share what you saw?