A 19-year-old was found shot dead in a Phoenix Costco parking lot, then police uncovered a shocking number of suspects

Phoenix police have arrested six people in connection with the fatal shooting of 19 year old Jabes Gurrola, who was found dead in a Costco parking lot earlier this year. The arrests mark a major development in a case that investigators have been working for weeks.

The incident first came to light through FOX 10 Phoenix, which reported that Gurrola was discovered on February 8 inside a vehicle parked at the Costco near Indian School Road and Grand Avenue. Officers responding to the scene found him suffering from at least one gunshot wound.

Despite emergency response efforts, Gurrola died at the scene. His death launched a homicide investigation that would soon expand far beyond a single suspect.

Investigators say six suspects are tied to the shooting

Phoenix police announced on March 5 that six individuals had been arrested in connection with Gurrola’s death. All of the suspects are now facing murder charges tied to the shooting, as other criminal cases were also drawing attention, including a Jan. 6 pardon life sentence.

Authorities identified four adult suspects in the case: 44 year old Nicholas Estrada, 25 year old Junior Raybourn, 19 year old William Salas-Mares, and 18 year old Aarion January. Investigators also arrested two teenage suspects whose identities have not been released because they are minors.

The wide range of ages among those accused quickly drew attention as the investigation unfolded. Cases involving multiple suspects can take time to piece together, especially when detectives are serving warrants and sorting out each person’s alleged role.

Police said the arrests unfolded gradually as the investigation progressed. January was the first suspect taken into custody on February 15, with the remaining arrests coming after multiple search warrants were served across the Valley, amid another Georgia Kroger arrest.

Those warrants ultimately led investigators to the remaining suspects tied to the case. Police have not publicly detailed the events that led up to the shooting or how each suspect is believed to have been involved.

Each of the six suspects is now facing multiple criminal charges, including murder. Investigators say the case remains active as they continue working to reconstruct what happened in the Costco parking lot on February 8.