Man, teen arrested in fatal shooting of 17-year-old girl in Phoenix; woman suspect outstanding

Two people were arrested in connection to the July 3 fatal shooting of a 17-year-old girl in Phoenix while a third person suspected of the shooting has not been found, according to police. 

Phoenix police officials said Jesus Javier Valle Padilla, 19, was arrested Friday on suspicion of giving a handgun to a woman who fatally shot Itzel Espinoza after the two got into a fight near 38th and Wier avenues. 

Police said on Monday that a 16-year-old suspected of the shooting was arrested and booked into the Durango Juvenile Detention Center. Lindsey Aguilar, 18, was also suspected of the shooting but has not been located by police, according to Sgt. Mercedes Fortune, a spokesperson for Phoenix police.

At about 5:15 a.m., police said Padilla was standing near Aguilar and Espinoza, who were in a physical fight. Espinoza ran to a parked vehicle and then locked the door, court documents said. 

Aguilar started banging on the window and demanding Espinoza get out of the car. Court documents said Padilla then gave Aguilar a handgun after she asked for it. 

Aguilar then fired multiple shots into the front passenger window of the car and fatally shot Espinoza, who was sitting inside. 

After Aguilar handed the gun back to Padilla, they both fled the scene, the probable cause statement said. 

Officials responded to the area near 35th Avenue and Roeser Road after a caller said a female was seated in a car in an alley and appeared to be shot, police said. 

Fire officials responded and pronounced Espinoza dead at the scene, according to court documents. 

A witness told police Padilla was standing near the fight and gave the gun to a woman at the scene, court documents said. Padilla later admitted to giving the gun to Aguilar and seeing her shoot Espinoza through the car window, court documents said. 

At about 1:45 p.m. on July 16, police said they found Padilla near 24th Street and University Drive and arrested him on suspicion of facilitation of murder. Court documents said the handgun used was found in a vehicle that Padilla was stopped in, but did not say who the gun was registered to. 

Anyone with information about Aguilar is encouraged to call Phoenix police at 602-262-6151 or,  to remain anonymous, Silent Witness at 480-948-6377 or 480-837-8446 for Spanish. 

Padilla was arrested Friday on suspicion of first-degree murder. 

His bail was set at $150,000. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 26. 

Reach the reporter at Audrey.Jensen@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter at @Audreyj101.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.