x
Breaking News
More () »

El Mirage home invasion connected to human smuggling, police say

Police said a home invasion suspect was shot and killed Saturday in El Mirage.

EL MIRAGE, Ariz. — A man has died after being shot during a home invasion in El Mirage Saturday night at a residence allegedly connected to human smuggling, according to the El Mirage Police Department.

Police said the shooting happened Saturday evening at about 5:30 p.m. Officers responded to the area of Thunderbird and El Mirage roads, where they found a man suffering gunshot wounds. 

Police said first responders attempted to help the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene by the El Mirage Fire Department. 

Further investigation revealed that four armed suspects had forced their way into a home in the area. They were confronted by the occupants of the home. One of the occupants shot at the intruders, hitting one of them, according to police.

The three other invaders fled and have not yet been located.

Three of the home's occupants, including the person who shot the gun, have been arrested. 

Four others were found to be inside the home. These four individuals had been smuggled into Arizona and were allegedly being held at the El Mirage home against their will. 

Police said Braulio Hernandez Mariscal, 44, and Carmen Rivas Fernandez, 60, were allegedly part of a human smuggling operation. They're both facing multiple criminal charges.

El Mirage police are still trying to determine the relationship between the original four individuals who arrived at the residence and the home's occupants. 

The incident remains under investigation.

Up to Speed 

Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12 News YouTube channel. Subscribe today. 

RELATED: Man killed in central Phoenix shooting

Silent Witness:

Arizona's Silent Witness program allows people to send in tips and share information about crimes happening within their local communities.

The program shares unsolved felony case information in multiple ways, including TV, radio and social media.

Anyone who has information on a crime or recognizes a suspect described by the program is asked to call 480-948-6377, go to the program's website online or download the Silent Witness app to provide a tip. The identity of anyone who submits a tip is kept anonymous.

Calls to Silent Witness are answered 24/7 by a live person and submitted tips are accepted at all times. Submitted tips are then sent to the detective(s) in charge of the specific case.

Individuals who submit tips that lead to an arrest or indictment in the case can get a reward of up to $1,000.

Have a tip? Submit it on the Silent Witness tip form here.

More ways to get 12News

On your phone: Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.

On your streaming device: Download 12News+ to your streaming device

The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.

On social media: Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Before You Leave, Check This Out