Silent Witness offers reward for investigation into deadly double shooting 2022

Silent Witness is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for a shooting at a party in August 2022 that left two people dead and another injured.

On August 28, 2022, Phoenix Police were called to the area of ​​24th Street and Baseline Road for reports of a loud house party and a possible shooting.

When officers arrived, police said they heard several gunshots coming from the backyard and saw “dozens” of people running away as officers made their way into the backyard.

They found three people with gunshot wounds. Two of those people, 21-year-old Xavier Martinez and 21-year-old Robert Puentes, died. The third was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Martinez's sister, Xena Shikenjanfki, told ABC15 that Thursday would have been his birthday.

“Holidays and birthdays are not the same. There are things they missed,” Shikenjanfki said.

Nearly two years later, with no arrests made, Phoenix police and Silent Witness are asking the public for help in identifying those responsible for the shooting.

Friends and family of the victims have increased the reward by $10,000, in addition to what Silent Witness had offered. Anyone providing information leading to the arrest or indictment of those responsible could be eligible for a $12,000 reward.

“There were over 100 people at the party and they crowded together in a backyard. So they were definitely surrounded by a crowd and someone saw who did it,” Shikenjanfki said.

Shikenjanfki asks anyone who knows what happened that night to put themselves in her family’s shoes.

“Just think, if it was your brother or your sister, your cousin or your close friend, you would want someone to speak up and do the right thing,” Shikenjanfki said.

Silent Witness can be contacted at 480-WTINESS or 480-TESTIGO. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online.