Leon Greer

In the early hours of New Year's Day 2023, Leon Greer, a 19-year-old Black man, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Phoenix, Arizona. Just after 2:00 a.m., he and four other people left a nightclub and stopped for gas at a Circle K. One of the passengers later told police they saw a black Dodge Charger circling the convenience store parking lot while they were there.

A short time later, as the group traveled in their Mercedes SUV near Interstate 10 and Jefferson Street, a car pulled up alongside them. Multiple rounds were fired into the SUV, striking two of the passengers. The driver of the Mercedes identified the attacking vehicle as a black Dodge Charger.

After the shooting, the driver continued off the freeway and parked in the lot of a Waffle House near University Drive, where they called for help. When Phoenix police officers arrived around 2:30 a.m., they found Leon Greer suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. The second victim, who had been shot in the leg, was driven to a different hospital by an unknown person and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Detectives from multiple bureaus of the Phoenix Police Department, including the gang and special assignments units, launched an investigation into the shooting. Police stated the attack was believed to be an act of retaliation connected to a growing feud between south Phoenix gangs.

The investigation led to the arrests of two suspects on January 20, 2023. Police identified the men as Gary Green, 35, and Randale Thomas, 30, both described as documented gang members. During a search of the suspects' homes, investigators recovered several guns, including a 9mm pistol, which was the same caliber as shell casings found at the scene of the shooting.

As of January 2023, both Green and Thomas had been booked into the Maricopa County jail. They faced multiple charges, including first-degree murder and assault, for their alleged involvement in the death of Leon Greer.