Alan David Whitworth, a 48-year-old White man, was remembered by family as a hardworking, caring, and wonderful father. He had recently started his own electrical company in Phoenix, Arizona, but was taking on extra work to provide for his family. His loved ones described him as the "hardest working, smartest man" they had ever met and were left heartbroken by his sudden death.
On the morning of Sunday, September 1, 2024, Whitworth and his 19-year-old colleague, Jamal Avery, were repairing a fence at a construction site near 39th Street and Thomas Road. Around 8 a.m., an argument broke out with another man who reportedly thought Avery was talking to him. The man left the scene but returned less than five minutes later armed with a gun.
According to a witness, Whitworth stepped between the gunman and Avery and began fighting for the weapon. The assailant then shot both Whitworth and Avery multiple times, continuing to fire even after they had fallen to the ground.
Whitworth was pronounced dead at the scene. Avery was rushed to a hospital in critical condition and placed in a medically induced coma.
The Phoenix Police Department launched an investigation, appealing to the public for any information about the shooter who had fled the scene. Their work led them to identify a suspect, and on September 19, 2024, officers arrested 31-year-old Marquea Cato near 40th Street and McDowell Road. Cato was booked into jail in connection with the shooting.
Marquea Cato was later indicted on multiple charges, including first-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty and was held in custody on a $2 million bond. In the months following the shooting, Jamal Avery was released from the hospital and transferred to a rehabilitation facility to continue his recovery. As of his family’s last update, the case against Cato was proceeding through the court system.
