2018 Scottsdale Shootings
Spree Shooting Incident
CLASSIFICATION: Spree Killing
LOCATION
Scottsdale, Arizona
TIME PERIOD
May 30–June 4, 2018
VICTIMS
6 confirmed
In a series of shootings from May 30 to June 4, 2018, Dwight Lamon Jones, 56, carried out a spree that resulted in the deaths of six individuals in Scottsdale, Arizona, before taking his own life as police closed in. The initial victims included Steven Pitt, a forensic psychiatrist, shot on May 31; Veleria Sharp and Laura Anderson, both paralegals, killed on June 1; and Marshall Levine, a psychologist, found dead on June 2. All victims had connections to Jones' contentious divorce, with the final two victims, Mary Simmons and Bryon Thomas, discovered on June 4, having no direct ties to the case. The investigation revealed that Jones used a .40-caliber Glock 22 pistol in the murders, and police had him under surveillance prior to his suicide, which occurred as he attempted to evade capture.
Investigators and the public theorize that Dwight Lamon Jones targeted his victims due to their professional connections to his contentious divorce, particularly focusing on those who had provided services related to his legal battles. The choice of a forensic psychiatrist and paralegals from a law firm involved in his divorce suggests a personal vendetta against those he believed contributed to his marital issues. Additionally, some speculate that Jones's actions may have been influenced by unresolved mental health issues, given his history and the nature of the targeted individuals.
The Tragic Tale of the 2018 Scottsdale Shootings
A Quiet Suburb Plunged into Chaos
In the late spring of 2018, the serene cities of Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona, found themselves at the mercy of a chilling spree killer. Over the course of five terrifying days, from May 30 to June 4, six lives were extinguished by a single man, Dwight Lamon Jones, culminating in a tragic end that left the communities in shock.
The Onset of Violence
The rampage began on May 30, with Dwight Lamon Jones armed with a .40-caliber Glock 22 pistol, determined to settle personal vendettas. His first target was Steven Pitt, a renowned forensic psychiatrist. Pitt, who had once helped police solve the infamous Baseline Killer case, was gunned down outside his office at 5:20 p.m. on May 31. His connection to Jones? A bitter divorce proceeding that had left a trail of animosity.
The following day, tragedy struck again at the law firm of Burt, Feldman, Grenier, where paralegals Veleria Sharp, 48, and Laura Anderson, 49, were shot at 2:15 p.m. Sharp, despite being shot in the head, managed to run into the street before collapsing, and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The law firm had been involved in Jones' divorce case, linking them to the killer's vendetta. By 11:30 p.m. that night, ballistic evidence unequivocally tied the murders of Pitt, Sharp, and Anderson to the same weapon.
As Friday night turned to Saturday, June 2, the body of Marshall Levine, a 72-year-old psychologist and counselor, was discovered in his Scottsdale office. Levine wasn't Jones' intended target but was subletting from a counselor who had worked with Jones' son during the contentious divorce.
Further Descent into Chaos
By June 3, the police had Dwight Jones under surveillance. He drove around the suburban streets of Fountain Hills in a gold Mercedes Benz, seemingly oblivious to the net closing around him. In a desperate act to cover his tracks, Jones discarded a small bag containing a .22-caliber Beretta pistol, later found to belong to Mary Simmons, 70, and her husband Byron Thomas, 72, who were shot and killed in their home. Their deaths, discovered on June 4, appeared unrelated to the divorce case but suggested an acquaintance with Jones. However, ballistics confirmed that the .22-caliber weapon had not been used in any of the shootings.
Unraveling the Mystery
The breakthrough came when Jones' ex-wife made a pivotal connection. Her current husband, a retired Phoenix police detective, recognized the link between the series of shootings and her previous marriage to Jones. Acting swiftly, he alerted the Phoenix Police violent crime unit on the night of June 2. This tip-off led investigators to focus on Jones as the prime suspect. They secured a DNA sample from a relative, which matched the DNA found on a shell casing at one of the crime scenes.
Portrait of a Killer
Dwight Lamon Jones, a 56-year-old man already known to law enforcement, emerged as the perpetrator. Rich Slavin, an assistant chief with the Scottsdale Police Department, revealed that Jones had faced domestic violence charges in 2008 or 2009, involving his wife and child. For nearly a decade, Jones had been living in Extended Stay hotels, a transient existence fueled by paranoia and resentment. His former wife described him as emotionally disturbed, a sentiment echoed by court records.
Less than a week before the killings, Jones had taken to social media, posting nearly ten hours of videos claiming a conspiracy against him, orchestrated by his ex-wife, psychiatrists, lawyers, and the Maricopa County Judicial system, all designed to deprive him of his son.
The Final Act
As police closed in on Jones, he took his own life, leaving behind a trail of grief and unanswered questions. The spree had ended, but for the families of the victims and the community of Scottsdale, the scars remained.
Sources
For more details on this case, please refer to the original Wikipedia article.
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Shooting Spree Begins
Dwight Lamon Jones begins a spree shooting in Scottsdale, Arizona.
First Victim Killed
Forensic psychiatrist Steven Pitt is shot and killed outside his office.
Two Paralegals Shot
Veleria Sharp and Laura Anderson are shot dead in their law office.
Counselor Found Dead
Marshall Levine, a psychologist, is found dead in his office.
Additional Victims Discovered
Bodies of Mary Simmons and Bryon Thomas are found in Fountain Hills.
Suspect Identified
Police identify Dwight Lamon Jones as the suspect in the shootings.
Jones Commits Suicide
Dwight Lamon Jones fatally shoots himself as police close in.
In a series of shootings from May 30 to June 4, 2018, Dwight Lamon Jones, 56, carried out a spree that resulted in the deaths of six individuals in Scottsdale, Arizona, before taking his own life as police closed in. The initial victims included Steven Pitt, a forensic psychiatrist, shot on May 31; Veleria Sharp and Laura Anderson, both paralegals, killed on June 1; and Marshall Levine, a psychologist, found dead on June 2. All victims had connections to Jones' contentious divorce, with the final two victims, Mary Simmons and Bryon Thomas, discovered on June 4, having no direct ties to the case. The investigation revealed that Jones used a .40-caliber Glock 22 pistol in the murders, and police had him under surveillance prior to his suicide, which occurred as he attempted to evade capture.
Investigators and the public theorize that Dwight Lamon Jones targeted his victims due to their professional connections to his contentious divorce, particularly focusing on those who had provided services related to his legal battles. The choice of a forensic psychiatrist and paralegals from a law firm involved in his divorce suggests a personal vendetta against those he believed contributed to his marital issues. Additionally, some speculate that Jones's actions may have been influenced by unresolved mental health issues, given his history and the nature of the targeted individuals.
The Tragic Tale of the 2018 Scottsdale Shootings
A Quiet Suburb Plunged into Chaos
In the late spring of 2018, the serene cities of Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona, found themselves at the mercy of a chilling spree killer. Over the course of five terrifying days, from May 30 to June 4, six lives were extinguished by a single man, Dwight Lamon Jones, culminating in a tragic end that left the communities in shock.
The Onset of Violence
The rampage began on May 30, with Dwight Lamon Jones armed with a .40-caliber Glock 22 pistol, determined to settle personal vendettas. His first target was Steven Pitt, a renowned forensic psychiatrist. Pitt, who had once helped police solve the infamous Baseline Killer case, was gunned down outside his office at 5:20 p.m. on May 31. His connection to Jones? A bitter divorce proceeding that had left a trail of animosity.
The following day, tragedy struck again at the law firm of Burt, Feldman, Grenier, where paralegals Veleria Sharp, 48, and Laura Anderson, 49, were shot at 2:15 p.m. Sharp, despite being shot in the head, managed to run into the street before collapsing, and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The law firm had been involved in Jones' divorce case, linking them to the killer's vendetta. By 11:30 p.m. that night, ballistic evidence unequivocally tied the murders of Pitt, Sharp, and Anderson to the same weapon.
As Friday night turned to Saturday, June 2, the body of Marshall Levine, a 72-year-old psychologist and counselor, was discovered in his Scottsdale office. Levine wasn't Jones' intended target but was subletting from a counselor who had worked with Jones' son during the contentious divorce.
Further Descent into Chaos
By June 3, the police had Dwight Jones under surveillance. He drove around the suburban streets of Fountain Hills in a gold Mercedes Benz, seemingly oblivious to the net closing around him. In a desperate act to cover his tracks, Jones discarded a small bag containing a .22-caliber Beretta pistol, later found to belong to Mary Simmons, 70, and her husband Byron Thomas, 72, who were shot and killed in their home. Their deaths, discovered on June 4, appeared unrelated to the divorce case but suggested an acquaintance with Jones. However, ballistics confirmed that the .22-caliber weapon had not been used in any of the shootings.
Unraveling the Mystery
The breakthrough came when Jones' ex-wife made a pivotal connection. Her current husband, a retired Phoenix police detective, recognized the link between the series of shootings and her previous marriage to Jones. Acting swiftly, he alerted the Phoenix Police violent crime unit on the night of June 2. This tip-off led investigators to focus on Jones as the prime suspect. They secured a DNA sample from a relative, which matched the DNA found on a shell casing at one of the crime scenes.
Portrait of a Killer
Dwight Lamon Jones, a 56-year-old man already known to law enforcement, emerged as the perpetrator. Rich Slavin, an assistant chief with the Scottsdale Police Department, revealed that Jones had faced domestic violence charges in 2008 or 2009, involving his wife and child. For nearly a decade, Jones had been living in Extended Stay hotels, a transient existence fueled by paranoia and resentment. His former wife described him as emotionally disturbed, a sentiment echoed by court records.
Less than a week before the killings, Jones had taken to social media, posting nearly ten hours of videos claiming a conspiracy against him, orchestrated by his ex-wife, psychiatrists, lawyers, and the Maricopa County Judicial system, all designed to deprive him of his son.
The Final Act
As police closed in on Jones, he took his own life, leaving behind a trail of grief and unanswered questions. The spree had ended, but for the families of the victims and the community of Scottsdale, the scars remained.
Sources
For more details on this case, please refer to the original Wikipedia article.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Shooting Spree Begins
Dwight Lamon Jones begins a spree shooting in Scottsdale, Arizona.
First Victim Killed
Forensic psychiatrist Steven Pitt is shot and killed outside his office.
Two Paralegals Shot
Veleria Sharp and Laura Anderson are shot dead in their law office.
Counselor Found Dead
Marshall Levine, a psychologist, is found dead in his office.
Additional Victims Discovered
Bodies of Mary Simmons and Bryon Thomas are found in Fountain Hills.
Suspect Identified
Police identify Dwight Lamon Jones as the suspect in the shootings.
Jones Commits Suicide
Dwight Lamon Jones fatally shoots himself as police close in.