Michael Walls

In the quiet, early morning hours of Thursday, August 11, 2016, a violent encounter shattered the peace of a Phoenix, Arizona, neighborhood. Michael Edward Walls, a 60-year-old White male, was in his home near 2100 E. Mitchell Drive when he was confronted by three armed individuals attempting to force their way inside. In a brave effort to protect his home, Michael tried to stop the intruders. The confrontation turned tragic when one of the assailants shot him. He died at the scene. His obituary remembered him as a brother, survived by his sister, Susan Walls-Bortman, and his brother, M. Kassapa.

The fatal incident occurred at approximately 2:17 a.m. in the area near 22nd Street and Osborn Road. The three suspects, who had concealed their faces, immediately fled after the shooting, disappearing into the pre-dawn darkness. The Phoenix Police Department was called to the scene and launched a homicide investigation into what they determined was an attempted home invasion that had escalated to murder. The community was left in shock, and a family was left to mourn a sudden and senseless loss.

Investigators discovered that the entire event had been captured by several surveillance cameras in the area. While the suspects had hidden their faces, the video footage provided detectives with a crucial lead. One of the men had a series of very distinctive tattoos that police hoped someone in the public would recognize. This suspect had a sunburst-style tattoo on his right shoulder, possibly with a tribal band around his bicep. He also had another prominent tattoo on his right elbow and additional tattoos covering his left arm.

Phoenix Police, including Sgt. Jamie Rothschild, emphasized the rarity and importance of having such clear evidence in a homicide case. “It’s so rare in a homicide that we have evidence like videos or photos,” Rothschild stated in an appeal to the public. The police released images from the surveillance footage, focusing on the unique tattoos, in the hope that a friend, family member, or acquaintance would identify the man.

Despite the video evidence and public appeals, years have passed without an arrest in Michael Walls's murder. The case remains an active and open investigation with the Phoenix Police Department. Detectives continue to seek the public’s help to identify the three individuals responsible for this brutal crime. The faces of the men may have been hidden, but the unique ink on one of them serves as a permanent identifier that could one day bring them to justice.

As of October 2024, the suspects remain at large, and the search for answers continues. The family of Michael Walls is still waiting for the resolution that would come with the capture and conviction of his killers. To encourage potential witnesses to come forward, the Silent Witness program is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for any information that leads to an arrest in this case. Authorities urge anyone who recognizes the tattoos or has any knowledge of the incident to contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.