Police said a gunman was critically wounded after shots were fired at several scenes near Old Town.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ. — A series of early morning shootings near Old Town Scottsdale has renewed concern over short-term rentals after neighbors said a party at the Maya Condominiums may have been tied to the violence.
The May 6 incident began with gunfire at a Circle K near Miller and Camelback roads and later spread to nearby homes and the Maya Condominium complex, police said. One man was shot by officers and remained in critical condition. Several people were arrested, including Fredrion Thomas, who police said was booked on multiple weapons charges tied to the first shots-fired call.
Scottsdale police said officers were first called around 2 a.m. after reports of gunfire at the Circle K. Officers found evidence that multiple rounds had been fired and that several bullets struck the business. About 30 minutes later, police received another shots-fired call from the Maya Condominium complex east of the store. Residents reported people running through the area. One caller told police several people had jumped a fence and were moving through her yard. Sgt. Allison Sempsis said detectives were working across three related scenes, including the store, a nearby home and the condominium complex.
As officers and detectives moved into the area, police said they saw a man running away. When detectives tried to contact him, police said the man reached toward his waistband. Officers then fired, striking him. The man jumped a fence into a residential backyard after being wounded, police said. Officers followed him, took him into custody and gave medical aid until paramedics arrived. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Police said a handgun was found at the site of the officer-involved shooting. No officers were injured, and police said no other injuries were reported.
The suspected gunman had not been publicly identified as of Saturday. Police have not said whether he fired at officers. Investigators also have not said what led to the first burst of gunfire at the Circle K or whether the same gun was used at each scene. Sempsis said detectives were interviewing witnesses and sorting through the events that linked the scenes. Mesa police are handling the investigation into the officer-involved shooting under standard outside-agency review procedures, while Scottsdale police continue to investigate the original gunfire and related arrests.
Neighbors at the Maya Condominiums told local reporters they believed the gathering connected to the chaos was happening at a short-term rental unit. Police have not publicly confirmed the unit’s rental status or said whether the owner, host or renter faces any enforcement action. The claim drew attention because Scottsdale has long been one of Arizona’s flashpoints over vacation rentals, party houses and neighborhood complaints. The area near Old Town draws visitors for bars, restaurants, nightlife and events, and residents have pushed the city for stronger tools when homes or condos are used for large gatherings.
Scottsdale’s rules allow short-term rentals, but the city says they may not be used for nuisance parties, unlawful gatherings or criminal activity. The rules apply to private homes whether they are owner-occupied, long-term rentals or short-term rentals. A nuisance party can involve major neighborhood disturbance, including loud noise, traffic problems, public drunkenness, fighting or other conduct that disrupts nearby residents. City leaders strengthened local regulations in recent years after state lawmakers gave cities more power to regulate rentals used as party houses, though cities still cannot ban short-term rentals outright in most cases.
The May 6 shootings followed other cases in Scottsdale and nearby Valley cities where police were called to short-term rental parties that ended in gunfire. In 2020, Scottsdale police responded to a vacation rental near 82nd and Monterosa streets after a loud party, a fight and then a shooting. In 2023, neighbors near McKellips Road and McClintock Drive described a large party that spilled into the street before shots were fired. In April, authorities also investigated gunfire at a south Scottsdale short-term rental after a home was struck by bullets. Those cases have kept pressure on local officials, property owners and rental platforms.
Witnesses described a frightening scene as officers moved through the neighborhood after the Circle K shooting. One witness told reporters she had just left the gas station when she heard yelling and then several gunshots. Another said police used lights and commands while following a man through the area. Neighbors also described a SWAT response near the condominiums as officers tried to get people out of a unit. The reports added to residents’ concerns about not knowing who is staying next door or whether a quiet-looking rental may turn into a late-night party.
The criminal case now depends on witness statements, ballistics evidence, surveillance video and any body-camera footage from officers involved in the shooting. Police have not released the names of all people arrested or detailed every charge under review. The officer-involved shooting review will examine the moments before officers fired, while the broader Scottsdale investigation will focus on who fired at the Circle K, what happened at the condominium complex and whether the gathering violated city nuisance rules.
The wounded suspect remained hospitalized in critical condition, and police had not announced a final charging decision tied to the officer-involved shooting as of May 9. Investigators said more information would be released as the case moves forward.
Author note: Last updated May 9, 2026.