Alan King

On the morning of August 16, 2012, Alan King, a 33-year-old White male, was walking through the parking lot of his apartment complex in Phoenix, Arizona, when he became the victim of a deadly vehicle attack. The incident occurred shortly before 10:00 a.m. at the Desert Place Apartment Homes, located near 27th Avenue and Bethany Home Road. What began as an ordinary morning ended in tragedy when an unidentified driver deliberately appeared to accelerate toward King, striking him with a vehicle and leaving him fatally injured.

According to Phoenix police, the vehicle involved was a dark-colored sedan, possibly dark blue or dark green. Investigators believed the circumstances surrounding the collision were suspicious because the driver appeared to increase speed while approaching King rather than attempting to avoid him. Phoenix Police Sergeant Darren Burch described the vehicle's acceleration as particularly significant, suggesting that the driver may have intentionally targeted King. The force of the collision caused fatal injuries, and King did not survive.

The circumstances immediately raised concerns that the incident was not an accidental pedestrian collision but a deliberate act of violence. Detectives began investigating the death as a homicide, focusing on identifying the vehicle and determining who was behind the wheel. The possibility that King had been specifically targeted became an important aspect of the investigation. However, authorities did not publicly establish a motive or explain whether King had previously encountered threats, disputes, or other circumstances that might have contributed to the attack.

One of the greatest challenges facing investigators was the limited information available about the suspect vehicle. Police knew that a dark-colored sedan had been involved, but publicly released descriptions did not establish its make, model, license plate number, or other distinguishing characteristics. Investigators hoped that someone who had witnessed the collision, recognized the vehicle, or possessed information about the driver's identity would come forward. The circumstances suggested that the person responsible may have intentionally used the vehicle as a weapon, but investigators still needed evidence to establish who committed the crime and why.

As the investigation continued, Phoenix police worked with Silent Witness to bring renewed public attention to King's killing. The case was featured in a September 17, 2012, broadcast and revisited in a March 20, 2017, report. During the renewed appeal, Sergeant Burch emphasized the suspicious acceleration of the vehicle and the possibility that the attack had been targeted. Authorities hoped that someone with knowledge of the incident might provide the information needed to identify the driver and resolve the investigation.

Despite the public appeals, available reporting does not identify a suspect or document an arrest directly connected to King's murder. No verified information was located establishing that criminal charges were filed, a defendant was brought to trial, or a conviction was obtained. The absence of publicly documented developments does not necessarily mean investigators stopped working on the case, but it leaves the outcome uncertain.

The killing of Alan King remains a troubling example of a violent encounter in which an ordinary activity turned deadly within moments. He was walking through the parking lot of the place he called home when a vehicle approached and struck him under circumstances police believed indicated deliberate intent. Years after his death, investigators were still seeking information about the unidentified driver and the dark-colored sedan. Without a publicly confirmed suspect, arrest, or prosecution, the available record leaves unanswered who was responsible for King's death, what motivated the attack, and whether those responsible were ever held accountable.