A predator, Isaiah Adams, has been sentenced to 19 years in the custody of the Arizona Department of Corrections for a series of violent crimes that targeted people who are homeless and living at La Pradera Park near 39th Avenue and Glendale in Phoenix.
Adams’ sentence is to be followed by four years of supervised probation,
In June 2024, while on pretrial release for street-level drug sales, Adams violently attacked a homeless man who was asleep at a bus stop near La Pradera Park. Adams kicked the man in the face and ribs to wake him, and as the victim tried to escape, Adams shot him in the back. The victim was permanently paralyzed because of the attack.
Just nine days later, Adams was involved in another violent confrontation with a different homeless person. During the altercation, Adams fired at least nine shots, striking the victim in the foot. He was arrested ten days later while driving a stolen vehicle and was in possession of illegal drugs.
Adams pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- One Count of Armed Robbery, a Class Two Felony
- One Count of Aggravated Assault, a Class Three Felony
- One Count of Conspiracy to Possess Dangerous Drugs for Sale, a Class Two Felony
- One Count of Possession of Dangerous Drugs, a Class Four Felony
“This predator didn’t just commit random acts of violence, he deliberately targeted the most vulnerable people in our community,” said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “He shot, paralyzed, and terrorized individuals who were simply trying to survive. This kind of cruelty is beyond cowardly, and it has no place in Maricopa County.”