A 15-year old, Henry Gonzales, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the deadly shooting of a man riding a scooter in downtown Phoenix last summer.
According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Gonzales pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter, a Class Two Dangerous Felony, in the shooting death of 45-year-old Porfirio Medina.
The shooting occurred in August 2025 near 7th Street and Buckeye Road following a traffic confrontation between the victim, who was riding a scooter, and the occupants of a vehicle. After the two nearly collided, the victim followed the vehicle to the next intersection and approached the passenger side while it was stopped at a red light. Gonzales lowered the passenger-side window and fired a single shot, hitting the victim in the chest. After the shooting, the vehicle fled the scene without calling 911 or reporting the incident. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Video surveillance, license plate readers, and cell phone location data helped identify the vehicle used in the shooting and led police to identify Gonzales as the shooter. During an interview with investigators, Gonzales, who was 15 years old at the time of the shooting, admitted he had illegally obtained the handgun several days earlier, despite knowing that, as a minor, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. He also admitted selling the gun after the shooting because he feared he might use it again in another confrontation.
“A brief confrontation on the road ended with a man dead and a teenager facing years in prison. One reckless decision changed two families forever,” said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “This sentence sends a clear message: when you choose gun violence, we will hold you accountable.”
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