Peoria police arrest a man accused of killing two people

PHOENIX – A man accused of breaking into a Peoria home and killing two people has been arrested, authorities said Tuesday.

According to the Peoria Police Department, officers were called to reports of a shooting near 79th Avenue and Cholla Street around 4:15 a.m. Monday and found two victims with gunshot wounds.

Walter Mitchell, 52, died from his injuries at the scene of the accident. His wife, 42-year-old Susie Ephrem, was taken to a hospital for her injuries and died there.

Alexander Lee Smith, 21, was arrested about 12 hours later in Gilbert and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

What other details are available in the Peoria police case?

Police believed Smith broke into the home before shooting the victims.

They said the crimes “were not a random act.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Peoria Police Tip Line at 623-773-7045 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO (837-8446).

No further information was available.

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