Michael Sanchez, 18, and an alleged accomplice have been indicted on multiple charges in connection with the deadly shooting in Buckeye, Ariz., on May 14
Credit: GoFundMe
NEED TO KNOW
- Michael Sanchez, 18, is accused by prosecutors of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend and their unborn child in Buckeye, Ariz., on May 14
- Two others, including the victim’s pregnant best friend, were critically injured in the shooting
- Sanchez and an alleged accomplice have been indicted on multiple charges in connection with the case
A pregnant teenager was allegedly killed by her ex-boyfriend, who is also accused by prosecutors of shooting two other people, including the victim's best friend, who was also expecting a baby.
Michael Sanchez, 18, has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and interference with monitoring devices in connection with the deadly shooting, according to a press release shared by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
On May 14, Sanchez allegedly shot his pregnant ex-girlfriend — identified by police as 16-year-old Rylee Montgomery — killing her and their unborn baby outside a home in Buckeye, Ariz., per prosecutors and a statement from local police.
Buckeye police officers who arrived on the scene around 8:15 p.m. also discovered two additional female victims with gunshot wounds: a 17-year-old pregnant girl and a 22-year-old woman. They were rushed to the hospital in critical condition, according to police.
The victims were later identified by loved ones as teenager Abby Krebs and Myah Hembree, according to reports from AZ’s Family and FOX 10 Phoenix.
A GoFundMe campaign states that Krebs was best friends with Montgomery, who was three and a half months pregnant at the time of her death.
According to the fundraiser, the two were allegedly spending time at home with another friend when Montgomery’s ex-boyfriend arrived and she went outside to speak with him. They had reportedly been arguing for “most of the day” before he allegedly opened fire.
“Abby and the other friend ran but did not escape Michael's wrath,” the fundraiser alleges, noting that Krebs was six months pregnant.
As a result, Krebs underwent an emergency cesarean section to deliver her son, but he died at six days old, she said, per AZ’s Family. “His name was Timothy Rylee,” the 17-year-old told the news outlet.
Credit: GoFundMe
“We were getting ready to plan the baby shower and instead now we have to plan a funeral,” she added, per the outlet.
Krebs said that she and Montgomery had looked forward to raising their children side by side, a future that was cut short by the tragedy.
“We were like 'they can be best friends, they can grow up together,'” she told AZ’s Family. “That was our thought when we both found out we were pregnant together.”
Loved ones claimed on Montgomery’s GoFundMe campaign that she broke up with Sanchez in March after a series of alleged threats.
Buckeye police later responded to public questions regarding an alleged assault involving Montgomery and Sanchez that was reported to them on April 13.
“Police interviewed both parties who gave conflicting accounts of what happened," an updated press statement read. "Investigators were unable to establish probable cause for an arrest."
Police said that during their investigation, they learned of a separate incident in Avondale, Ariz., in which Sanchez allegedly threatened Montgomery with a gun.
“Buckeye officers notified the Avondale Police Department, which then investigated the allegation,” the statement concluded.
Following the fatal shooting, police said Sanchez was arrested in Avondale with help from local police and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Credit: Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
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Sanchez’s alleged accomplice, 19-year-old Antonio Tequida, has also been charged in connection with the case, prosecutors said. He was indicted on one count of first-degree hindering prosecution.
According to police, Tequida drove Sanchez to the home where he allegedly shot and killed Rylee. He "then drove Sanchez to a friend’s house to hide from police," the updated press statement alleges.
The prosecutor’s office said Sanchez is being held on no bond while Tequida remains in custody on a $100,000 cash bond. They have both pleaded not guilty, AZ’s Family reported. PEOPLE couldn’t immediately identify attorneys who could speak on their behalf.
Meanwhile, Hembree “remains in the ICU on a ventilator, fighting for her life,” a GoFundMe reads.
“While she still faces significant medical challenges, she is showing incredible strength and determination,” Hembree’s family said in part, to FOX 10 Phoenix. “We ask that everyone continue to keep Myah and our family in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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