Court records say the suspect told investigators the shooting and fire were part of a planned suicide pact.
GLENDALE, AZ — A 23-year-old Gilbert woman has been charged with murder after authorities found her boyfriend shot in the head inside a burning car late Tuesday on Loop 101 in Glendale, according to court records and state police.
Tana’Sa Marae Chambers was booked into the Maricopa County jail after the freeway fire near Union Hills Drive. Investigators said she admitted shooting the man, setting the vehicle on fire and trying to kill herself before the gun jammed. The case has moved into its early court stage, with prosecutors calling the killing planned and a judge setting a $1 million cash-only bond.
Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers and Glendale fire crews were called around 10:35 p.m. Tuesday to the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway near Union Hills Drive, where a Nissan Versa was engulfed in flames. Troopers found Chambers outside the vehicle, and witnesses told investigators they had pulled her away from the burning car. She was taken to a hospital for evaluation and possible smoke inhalation. After firefighters put out the fire, authorities found a man dead in the reclined front passenger seat with an obvious gunshot wound to the head. Investigators said the fire damaged or destroyed other possible evidence inside the vehicle.
Police documents say Chambers told hospital staff, “I did it,” and said her boyfriend had told her to shoot him in the head and light him on fire. After she was released from the hospital, investigators interviewed her. Court records say Chambers told police she had planned to take her own life and had bought the gun the day before. Investigators said she reported shooting the man while driving, pulling over, setting the car on fire and then trying to shoot herself. She told police the gun jammed and said she got out because of the heat and smoke. Authorities said a handgun was found between the driver’s seat and passenger seat, and a shell casing was found under the driver’s seat.
Chambers faces counts that include first-degree murder, arson, drive-by shooting, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, according to court records and police accounts. Prosecutors said during an initial court appearance that Chambers admitted shooting the victim at close range while the car was moving. A prosecutor said the state considered Chambers an extreme danger to the community because the shooting appeared premeditated, the gun had been purchased the day before and the fire appeared to be an attempt to destroy evidence. Chambers did not appear in person at the hearing because of concerns about self-harm, a court official said.
The victim had not been publicly identified as of the latest reports. Police said a wallet was found in the car and helped investigators identify him, but officials had not released his name pending standard notification steps. Investigators described him as Chambers’ boyfriend. The case began as a vehicle fire investigation and quickly became a homicide case once firefighters reached the passenger compartment. The freeway lanes near the scene were closed during the response and investigation, then later reopened. The burning vehicle and the location along a major West Valley freeway drew a large emergency response late Tuesday night.
The defense pointed in court to Chambers’ age, lack of a known criminal record and mental health concerns. A defense attorney said the incident was not described as random violence, but as conduct directed within the relationship. Forensic psychologist John De La Torre, speaking about the details described in the court records, said cases framed as suicide pacts can be complicated. “The plan was so chaotic in nature,” De La Torre said. He said investigators would still need to determine what led to the shooting and whether any outside pressure, planning or conflict shaped the events before the fire.
Chambers remained jailed on a $1 million cash-only bond as the investigation continued. Authorities had not announced the victim’s name or a full charging timeline by Saturday, and the next public step is expected through Maricopa County court proceedings.
Author note: Last updated April 25, 2026.