Apartment tenants held hostage, robbed
by Brandon Donahoo(April 19th, 2009 @ 1:08pm)

Comments: 4

Several men armed with handguns entered an apartment near 35th Avenue and Indian School Road Friday night robbing and sexually abusing the tenants, according to the Phoenix Police.

Officers believe two men entered the apartment and took seven people hostage. Once inside, the robbers summoned several more men to come in.

During the robbery, police say one victim was sexually assaulted and a 14-year-old girl was sexually abused.

When Phoenix Police arrived, they saw several men fleeing from the apartment. They split up and ran in different directions.

An officer spotted 25-year-old Jesus Garcia-Perea running up a staircase with a handgun. When the officer told him to drop the gun, Garcia-Perea pointed the handgun at him.

The officer immediately fired at him striking him twice. He was rushed to a Valley hospital in critical condition.

Officers also arrested Jonathan Escarrega-Castillo, 21, after they saw him fleeing the scene with possessions from the victims' apartment.

Police then found Jesus Serreno-Montoya, 22, hiding in a backyard near the apartment complex.

A fourth suspect was seen running from the scene but was not located.

Officers are looking for up to three additional suspects.

No officers were injured during the pursuit.

Castillo and Montoya told investigators they were in the United States illegal. Police are still trying to verify their immigration status with ICE.

Officers ask if anyone has information that will help with the case to please call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.


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