A “CONTROLLING” teenager has been accused of shooting dead his pregnant girlfriend and their unborn child.
The horror killing in Arizona also saw two others seriously wounded and fighting for their lives in intensive care.
Teenager Rylee was pregnant with her alleged killer’s child Credit: facebook/@BuckeyeAZPD
Sanchez stands accused of murdering his on-again-off-again girlfriend and shooting two others at the scene Credit: facebook/@BuckeyeAZPD
Pregnant Rylee Montgomery, 16, died at the scene while her 17-year-old friend, also pregnant, and a 22-year-old woman were rushed to hospital.
Police have named 18-year-old Michael Sanchez, who had been in an on-again off-again relationship with Rylee, as their prime suspect.
The Buckeye Police Department ran in on the horror scene at 8:15pm on Thursday, May 14.
They said they found “three female victims suffering from gunshot wounds” on Elwood St in Buckeye.
Two men were spotted running from the horror attack before officers arrived.
“Over the next few hours, investigators worked to identify the suspected shooter as 18-year-old Michael Sanchez, who was in a romantic relationship with Montgomery”, confirmed Buckeye police in a .
He is now being held in Maricopa County jail on two counts of first-degree murder.
Sanchez had previously threatened violence against Rylee if she did not “kill the baby” she carried in her womb, according to the victim’s stepmother.
Rylee ‘saw good in everyone’ according to her grieving stepmother Credit: GoFundMe
Buckeye Police have thrown Sanchez behind bars and charged him with murder Credit: facebook/@BuckeyeAZPD
Rylee’s step mum, Amy, claimed on GoFundMe that Sanchez was “controlling”.
“He started off very sweet and nice to her. Once he got her pregnant in February, it was all over”, she said.
“When she broke up with him in March, he decided to point a gun at her face and told her she wasn’t allowed”.
According to Amy, he also sent her photos of himself holding a gun to his head with the message “I’ll get you”.
Rylee reported the disturbing threats to the police – and just three hours before she was killed, according to her stepmother.
The family had contacted police several times in the run up to Rylee’s death – but were largely ignored, claimed Amy.
She believes Sanchez planned to murder her daughter in cold blood.
“He took it upon himself to travel over 20 miles to where she was and shoot them all. Her friend was shot 3 times. Abby was shot in the back and nearly bled out.”
Abby – believed to be Rylee’s pregnant pal – was forced to deliver her baby boy at 25 weeks.
The identity of the third woman who was shot is unclear.
Step mum Amy also revealed that Rylee would have given birth to a baby girl whom the family have named Erica Kathleen, after Rylee’s grandmother.
At the time of the murder, Sanchez was already being watched by the police.
The 18-year-old was wearing an ankle monitor for crashing his car in a road rage incident in March.
Domestic abuse - how to get help
DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence.
Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship:
- Emotional abuse – Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse – gaslighting – being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to
- Threats and intimidation – Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you
- Physical abuse – This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten.
- Sexual abuse – Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent.
If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers:
- The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night
- Men who are being abused can call Respect Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or ManKind on 0182 3334 244
- Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring Galop on 0800 999 5428
- If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999
Remember, you are not alone.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime.
Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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