Richard Coss

Richard Coss was a 25-year-old White man whose life was cut short in a violent home invasion in Phoenix, Arizona. In the early morning hours of December 18, 2021, a dispute with a neighbor escalated into a fatal confrontation that ended with Richard being shot and killed inside his own apartment.

The incident began with a verbal altercation between Richard and a female neighbor who lived downstairs. According to Richard’s girlfriend, who was present for the argument, the neighbor later told her that she had "called someone to take care of the victim." Not long after, the threat became a reality.

Just before 1 a.m., there was a knock on the door of the apartment Richard shared with his girlfriend and a male friend. When Richard opened it, at least three men, most wearing masks, forced their way inside and began fighting with him and his friend. During the struggle, one of the intruders produced a handgun and shot Richard once in the chest. The attackers then fled the scene. Richard’s girlfriend had managed to escape the apartment and call 911, but he was pronounced deceased by the time police arrived.

The Phoenix Police Department’s investigation quickly led them to 46-year-old Carl Robert Blazak, the neighbor’s husband. Blazak admitted to being present during the attack but denied being the shooter. Investigators later identified and arrested two other men: Keith McCollough, 49, and Jimmy Eslinger, 29. All three were charged with first-degree murder and burglary.

Prosecutors described the killing as a gang-retaliation attack, identifying Keith McCollough as a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang. DNA evidence was used to incriminate McCollough in the crime. Following trial, McCollough was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. For their roles in the killing, Jimmy Eslinger was sentenced to 16 years in prison, and Carl Blazak was sentenced to approximately 10 years. In a statement, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said, "The Hells Angels want to rule through fear. In Maricopa County, we do not bow to intimidation or outlaw motorcycle gangs." As of November 2025, all three men have been sentenced, and the case is closed.