Ariz. man accused of fatally shooting homeless woman who was in an alley near his home

CHANDLER, Ariz. (TCD) — A 41-year-old man faces a murder charge after he allegedly shot and killed a homeless woman who was in the alley behind his home.

According to the Chandler Police Department, on Friday, Jan. 20, at 9:24 a.m., officers received a shots fired call near Arizona Avenue and Fairview Street and found a female in her 30s suffering from several gunshot wounds. The victim, Jessica Luz, was reportedly taken to a local hospital, where she died from her wounds.

Luz was reportedly homeless and known to “frequent the area.”

On the day of the shooting, the suspect, James Taylor, allegedly became upset with Luz because she was in the alley and his dogs were barking at her. Taylor reportedly “yelled at Luz to get out of the alley and Luz refused to leave.”

Taylor reportedly got a gun from inside his home and threatened to shoot her if she did not leave. She allegedly refused again, and Taylor reportedly shot her.

Chandler Police reportedly found Luz walking away from the area of the shooting and into another backyard nearby. Taylor eventually surrendered to police and was taken into custody on charges of first-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a prohibited possessor.

According to court documents cited by AZ Family, during the negotiations to get him to surrender, Taylor allegedly told police he wanted to die by suicide by cop and that he tried to kill himself the night before, and he was angry that he survived.