Police say a man is in life-threatening condition; three women are expected to survive.
PHOENIX, AZ — Four people were shot just before 2:30 a.m. Sunday near 1st and Washington streets in downtown Phoenix, prompting street closures and a pause in light rail service as officers searched the area and marked evidence across several blocks, police said.
Investigators said three women suffered non-life-threatening injuries and a man was critically hurt. No arrests were announced by Sunday evening, and detectives had not released suspect information or a possible motive. The shooting unfolded along a corridor of bars and nightclubs in the city’s core, a busy entertainment area that draws late-night crowds and sits steps from the Valley Metro tracks. Police said the investigation remains active as they review evidence and interview witnesses.
Officers responded after reports of gunfire around 2:25 a.m. and found multiple victims in the street near Washington between 1st and 2nd streets. Evidence markers dotted the roadway at daybreak as yellow tape sealed off intersections. “I just went on my run this morning and was wondering what all the lights and police cars were for,” said Joy Benton, who encountered the blocked streets. A hotel guest, Paul Basballe, said the commotion woke him before dawn and described sirens and beeping as crews moved equipment. Investigators worked through the morning while patrol units held the perimeter and traffic officers rerouted vehicles around the shutdown.
Police said the three women were taken to area hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening. The man, also transported, was in life-threatening condition. Authorities did not release ages or identities for the victims. Washington Street closures stretched from 2nd Street to Central Avenue for much of the morning, police on scene told reporters. Portions of 1st Street stayed closed into the afternoon as detectives canvassed businesses for surveillance video and spoke with employees arriving to open. Valley Metro light rail service through the corridor was halted for several hours before limited access resumed. The department said it is unknown how many shots were fired, how many weapons were used, or how the confrontation began.
The blocks around the shooting include popular bars, restaurants and venues that often see late-night foot traffic after games and concerts. Residents in nearby apartments watched from balconies while visitors in town for events at Chase Field described a heavy police presence. Daytime photos showed bullet casings near a crosswalk and evidence tents spanning multiple lanes. A couple interviewed outside a club said they heard a rapid series of shots and sprinted back indoors. “We were on our way leaving the club and we heard a bunch of shots,” the man said, adding that they saw two people down as they moved to safety. The woman said she panicked as crowds pushed for cover and later returned looking for a lost purse.
Business owners said the closures cut into Sunday brunch and lunch hours. Harrison St. Pierre, who owns The Kettle Black and The Desmond on 1st Street, said his restaurants lost midday revenue as police kept the street closed. He also worried about the effect on visitors deciding whether to come downtown, noting the area’s usual draw near the homes of the Suns and Diamondbacks. The corridor typically fills up on weekends and during bowl season, and Sunday’s investigation kept delivery drivers and customers circling the block looking for open routes.
Police had not confirmed where the gunfire started or what led to it. They said they were gathering statements and checking private cameras along Washington. Detectives were also seeking to determine whether an argument preceded the shooting or if more than one person opened fire. Officials did not say whether they recovered firearms at the scene. The department planned to release updates as information is verified, including any description of a suspect or vehicle, and to coordinate with transit officials about service impacts should additional searches occur.
No charges were announced by late Sunday. If a suspect is identified, a brief initial court appearance would follow an arrest, and probable-cause filings would outline preliminary allegations and bail status. Police said the case will be forwarded to prosecutors once investigators complete interviews and collect video from surrounding businesses. Any victim identity releases are expected after family notifications. Officials did not set a time for a news conference but said additional details could come as early as Monday after overnight detectives complete their reports.
By midafternoon, most streets had reopened, though some restrictions lingered near 1st Street as crime scene technicians finished photographing the area. As sunset neared, the nightlife strip was expected to draw crowds again for the evening slate of games and concerts. “I’m just glad we’re safe. I pray for everyone that’s involved,” the witness outside the club said earlier, summing up a day when downtown residents, workers and visitors navigated barricades while police traced the path of the bullets.
As of Sunday night, police reported no arrests and said the man wounded in the shooting remained in life-threatening condition. Investigators plan to continue interviews and review surveillance footage, with the next update expected once detectives verify leads.
Author note: Last updated December 28, 2025.