An early-morning altercation at a small house party in Gilbert, Arizona, on June 18, 2023, resulted in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Jacob JJ Levi Carlson. Officers responding shortly after midnight to the 100 block of West Moore Avenue found Carlson with gunshot wounds to his chest and upper torso; he was taken to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead. Police described the incident as isolated, with no other injuries reported at the party.

Investigators identified a suspect after analyzing evidence from the scene. On June 19, 2023, 17-year-old Zachariah Brandon Ezell was arrested and initially booked into the Durango Juvenile Detention Facility; the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office later charged him as an adult with first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree burglary, disorderly conduct and other counts. Authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive.

If anyone attended that party or has information about what led to the altercation, please come forward.