Phoenix Police Launch Homicide Investigation Following Fatal Shooting on Cave Creek Road

Phoenix detectives are investigating the shooting death of Emmett Henry Yazzie Jr. near Cave Creek Road. Call Silent Witness with any tips.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 14, 2026, 6:22 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the Arizona Daily Independent.

Nighttime Shooting Near Cave Creek Road

A quiet Thursday evening in North Phoenix was shattered by gunfire, leaving one man dead and detectives searching for leads. Phoenix Police Department officers responded to a shooting call at approximately 8:18 p.m. on March 12, 2026, in the area of Cave Creek Road and Greenway Parkway. Upon arrival, first responders discovered an adult male lying on the ground suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The victim, identified as Emmett Henry Yazzie Jr., was found in critical condition.

Medical Response and Death Pronouncement

Phoenix Fire Department personnel arrived shortly after the police to provide emergency medical intervention. Yazzie was rushed to a nearby trauma center, but despite life-saving efforts by medical staff, he was pronounced deceased. The Office of the Medical Examiner took custody of Yazzie's remains at the hospital. A formal postmortem examination is pending to determine the exact cause and manner of death, though the case is being handled as a homicide investigation by the Phoenix Police Department's Violent Crimes Bureau.

Investigation Status and Public Appeals

As of Friday morning, no suspect descriptions or vehicle information have been released by authorities. Detectives spent several hours on the scene collecting evidence and canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses or surveillance footage. The Phoenix Police Department is urging anyone who was in the area of Cave Creek Road and Greenway Parkway on Thursday night to come forward with any information that might assist in identifying a perpetrator.