Love triangle ends with 19-year-old woman killing rival in Maryvale, police say
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — A 19-year-old woman shot and killed a romantic rival in west Phoenix and was later arrested, new court paperwork released on Tuesday said.
Police said Chamille Tapia-Hernandez got into an argument with 23-year-old Alyssa Candelaria Gomez inside a shed in the backyard of a home near 75th Avenue and Indian School Road just after noon on Oct. 31. The man they were both dating rented out the shed, according to a witness. The argument escalated, and police said Tapia-Hernandez pulled out a gun and shot Gomez in the stomach. Both the man and Tapia-Hernandez ran from the backyard. First responders arrived and took Gomez to the hospital, where she later died.
Police said a witness was in the backyard during the shooting and told them Tapia-Hernandez shot and killed Gomez. The man at the center of the love triangle later drove off in the witness’ car without her or Tapia-Hernandez. Tapia-Hernandez reportedly ran north on 74th Avenue.
Tapia-Hernandez was arrested on Thursday while in her mother’s vehicle, court paperwork said. During an interview with detectives, Tapia-Hernandez denied being romantically involved with the man but claimed the man’s girlfriends were jealous that she was allowed to stay with him at the shed, police said. Court documents said she admitted to struggling with an addiction to smoking pills and smoked two days before the shooting.
Tapia-Hernandez denied she shot Gomez and instead said she heard the gunshot, picked up the handgun because she was scared and put it in her waistband. She later said she didn’t know if it was possible something took over her body, causing her to shoot Gomez, investigators said. She was booked on a charge of second-degree murder, and her bail was set at $1 million.
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