AZ - Slain boy's father also murdered night before

This mentions the possible drug connection to these murders. The AZ papers will no longer say if a person is illegal. JMO

Slain boy's father also murdered night before
by William Hermann - Dec. 15, 2010 11:54 AM
The Arizona Republic

Phoenix police on Wednesday announced a startling development in the case of 6-year-old Xavier Daniel Jaquez, the youngster found shot to death in a west Phoenix alley Tuesday: The boy's father, Angel Jaquez, 27, had been found shot to death Monday night in a house on east Broadway Road.

Police hold community meeting after boy's death | Photos | Condolences

"This family has been targeted for violence," said police spokesman Sgt. Trent Crump. "But we still don't know the motive."

Crump said that Angel Jaquez has an "arrest history," and he said, "I won't say we're not looking at drugs as a possible connection here, but we're looking at everything."

Crump said the boy was found by sanitation workers at about 10 a.m. Tuesday, fully clothed, in an alley near Holiday Park Elementary School at 65th Drive and Roma Avenue. Crump said the boy's body was not removed until Wednesday morning, permitting an exhaustive investigation of the area by homicide detectives.

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Original Story 12/14/2010

Phoenix police hold meeting after boy's death
by William Hermann - Dec. 14, 2010 07:50 PM
The Arizona Republic

Phoenix police sought to reassure more than 350 members of a west Phoenix neighborhood Tuesday night that their children were safe despite the slaying of a young boy near their community school.
The body of the 6-year-old boy, whose name was withheld by police, was found by sanitation workers sprawled in an alley near 65th Drive and Roma Avenue about 10 a.m. Tuesday, authorities said.

The boy suffered "obvious signs of trauma," Phoenix police Sgt. Trent Crump said, and investigators "believe the child is the target of this homicide; it is not a random act."

Maryvale Precinct Commander Robert Handy delivered that same message to a large turnout of concerned and attentive parents Tuesday night at Holiday Park School, a Cartwright Elementary School District school adjoining the location where the child's body was found.

Handy first offered reassurances, telling those in attendance: "We do not believe we have a stranger running around committing random acts of violence against children. That child was targeted specifically."

Handy hinted that police have made progress toward solving the crime, saying the department has "very experienced homicide investigators on this case, and we have a very good idea of how this will proceed."

The community meeting lasted nearly an hour, as police were politely peppered with questions. Police said they would have a strong presence at and around the school, and Handy said he believed children could be safely dropped off or come to school themselves.

Parents reacted without anger, offering support for police. One parent expressed appreciation for the job officers were doing in the neighborhood.

Cartwright District spokeswoman Meri Simmons said the district sent a letter home to parents Tuesday "assuring them that we will keep them informed and that their children are safe."

If police identify the victim as a Holiday Park student, Simmons said a crisis team of psychologists and special-services staff would be sent to the school. The principal will call every parent to let each know they can pick up their child from school if they want, and to describe help available. A letter will be sent home offering advice to help children.

"If it is one of our children, it will be announced to the staff at the staff meeting who the child is and we will tell the staff members if they want to meet individually with the school psychologist, we will be here for that," Simmons said.

"We went through this less than two months ago," she added. "This is our second death this year. In October, a boy collapsed on the playing field of Davidson Elementary School and died. We still don't have the exact cause of death."
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