A third victim has died after the Nov. 11 mass shooting in downtown Globe that originally left two people dead and two others critically injured.
Twenty-two-year-old Ashley Sanchez succumbed to her injuries and passed away with her family at her side at 3:18 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, Globe Chief of Police Dale Walters announced in a statement that evening.
“Please keep the victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers,” he said.
The extradition hearing for the 22-year-old defendant, Sterling Randall Hunt, of Globe, was held Nov. 15 in San Carlos and extradition was granted, Walters said.
Hunt was arrested and transported to Gila County Jail, with his initial appearance held that day in Gila County Superior Court, said Walters, adding that Hunt was held without bond.
“Based on the tragic death of Ashley Sanchez, additional charges will be filed,” Walters said.
The City of Globe will hold a “community meeting to address the healing of Globe, Miami and San Carlos” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the Miami High School Auditorium, 4739 Ragus Road, in Miami (after press time).
On Nov. 16, a joint statement was issued by Globe Mayor Al Gameros, Terry Rambler, chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe; and Miami Mayor Darryl Dalley.
It says, in part, “Words cannot express the shock and horror of such violence. Those who survived will live with trauma for the rest of their days. We pray that those who lost loved ones, the survivors and their families may all find solace in this time of great sorrow.”
Calling violence “the greatest threat to the stability of our communities,” Gameros, Rambler and Dalley said, “We do not condone violence of any kind. This is not the time for anger or retribution. Justice will prevail – that is the solemn promise of the law and the U.S. Constitution.”
The three went on to thank the Gila County Sheriff’s Office, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Gila County Attorney’s Office, the City of Globe, Town of Miami and San Carlos Apache Police Departments, the Gila County Drug, Gang and Violent Crimes Task Force and the Globe Fire and Tri-City Fire Departments for their assistance.
“Through their collaboration, the San Carlos Police was able to swiftly make the arrest and remove the threat to our community,” the statement said.
Gameros, Rambler and Dalley called upon the community to recognize that this was not a racial event, calling it instead “…a brutal, evil, senseless act – one that has no place in our civilized society. We will only be further scarred if we do not come together.”
The statement referred to the “long, shared history” of the three communities. “Even though we have two very distinct cultures, today, we have a common interest in job growth, education and our local economy. We need to ensure that our common interests take precedence over attempts to create divisiveness.”
“From Miami through Globe, and down through the Reservation to Safford, this is where we live, work and socialize. Our children attend school together. We share common hopes and dreams for our children,” the Nov. 16 statement said. “Our overriding focus has been – and continues to be – our shared aspirations for our families and friends. The singular tragedy of this past Sunday cannot be a barrier to our hopes and dreams.
Gameros, Rambler and Dalley went on to say that now is the time for healing. “When a horrific tragedy strikes, it affects us all. Lives have been shattered and taken. We must console and support each other. It is our further hope and prayer that we may stand shoulder-to-shoulder with one purpose ¬– that we all live in peace and harmony, so that we may prevent violence.
“We must also stand together against violence and hatred. After all, we are one people – we are Americans,” the Nov. 16 statement said. “Even though we have different histories, cultures and beliefs, united we can never be defeated by the violence perpetrated by one.”
In his Nov. 13 press conference, Walters had identified all five victims, saying that Cristi Licano, 44, and Daniel Albo, 22, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Victims Ashley Sanchez and Charlene (Charli) Peak, both age 22, “were airlifted to Valley trauma centers for their critical injuries,” he said.
Sanchez was still in critical condition and Peak was in stable condition at that time.
Walters also identified a fifth victim, 32-year-old Scott Mills, who was shot at during the incident but was “able to run for cover and he was not hit by any of the gunman’s bullets.”
He described the scenario in which Albo, Sanchez and Peak had gone to the bar’s back patio for a smoke, while Hunt went to the front.
While the three were smoking, Hunt went to the back patio and opened fire. He then left the back patio, encountering Mills and Licano and shot at them, Walters said.
In a previous press conference, Walters had said that Hunt had played pool with the victims earlier that night.
Police confiscated the weapon, which Walters described as a Glock, “a 9mm, semi-automatic handgun.”
In conjunction with the Gila County Attorney’s Office, the Globe Police Department obtained charges against Hunt the afternoon of Nov. 13, Walters said.
They are first degree murder charges for the deaths of Albo and Licano and attempted first degree murder for Sanchez, Peak and Mills.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with each victim, their families and their friends,” said Walters, also expressing his “deep appreciation of the support shown to the victims of this senseless crime” during the Nov. 12 candlelight vigil, held in downtown Globe.
At the vigil, which was attended by more than 100 people, former Globe City Councilman and Rt. Rev. James P Haley II OSP, prayed for healing for the victims and their families, as well as unity in the community.
Gameros followed, saying that while he was asked to say a prayer for the candlelight vigil, he wanted to say a few words first.
“On behalf of our city council and staff, our sincerest condolences to the families of the two lives lost last night and our continued prayers for the two survivors as they fight for their lives,” he said. “It is unthinkable that something like this would happen in our small community – but it did. We mourn for the potential of the lives lost, and for their hopes and dreams that will never be realized.”
“This senseless act of violence is not a time to divide us, but a time to bring our communities together as we begin to mourn and make sense of this horrible tragedy,” Gameros said.
