Police say the Fourth of July shooting followed an argument between the teen suspect and classmates.
GLENDALE, Ariz. — A 15-year-old Phoenix boy is facing charges after police said he opened fire during a Fourth of July confrontation at Glendale’s Westgate Entertainment District, injuring five juveniles near a busy public gathering area.
The shooting sent families running from one of the West Valley’s best-known entertainment districts and brought a large police response to an area packed for the holiday weekend. Glendale police said all five victims survived and suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. The case now centers on how a teenage argument escalated into gunfire in a crowded plaza and how the suspect obtained a handgun.
Police said officers were called just after 9 p.m. Saturday to Westgate Entertainment District, near Glendale and 91st avenues, after reports of gunfire near the fountain area. When officers arrived, they found five juveniles with gunshot wounds. Investigators later said the 15-year-old suspect was at Westgate with his family when he encountered a group of classmates. Glendale police said an argument between the groups became heated before the teen pulled out a gun and began shooting. Police said the boy was later found hiding in the area and was taken into custody. Officials said there was no continuing threat to the public after the arrest.
The victims included an 8-year-old girl, police said. Investigators said the suspect’s two sisters were among those wounded, including the younger child. Police have not publicly released the names of the suspect or the victims because they are juveniles. Most of the victims were taken to hospitals for treatment, and police said several had been released by the time investigators gave an update. Authorities have not released the full ages of all five victims, the number of shots fired or the exact type of gun used. Police also have not said whether any adult may face charges connected to the firearm.
The teen faces charges that include aggravated assault, endangerment and minor in possession of a firearm while not accompanied by a parent or guardian, according to reports citing court documents. Because the suspect is 15, the case is moving through the juvenile justice system unless prosecutors seek a different path. No adult charging decision had been announced. Police said detectives are still reviewing witness statements, video from the entertainment district and other evidence gathered after the shooting. The investigation also is expected to examine where the gun came from and whether anyone helped the teen before or after the shooting.
Westgate Entertainment District is a major shopping, dining and event area next to State Farm Stadium and Desert Diamond Arena. The district often draws large crowds during holidays and major events, including families with children. Witnesses told local reporters that people ran, hid or dropped to the ground when gunfire rang out. Some said the noise was confusing at first because it happened on the Fourth of July, when fireworks were already being heard around the Valley. Police said the shooting did not appear to be random and that the suspect knew at least some of the people involved.
The shooting revived memories of past violence at Westgate. In May 2020, three people were shot there by a gunman who later received a long prison sentence. Police have not connected the 2026 case to that earlier attack, but the location added to public concern because Westgate is designed as an open gathering space for families, sports fans and restaurant crowds. Glendale officials have not announced major security changes tied to the July 4 shooting, but police said officers and detectives continued working the case after the teen was arrested.
Investigators are expected to continue reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses who were in the fountain area and nearby businesses when shots were fired. Police have not released a final timeline showing when the argument began, when the first shot was fired or how long it took officers to find the suspect. The next key steps include any juvenile court proceedings, possible updates on the victims’ recoveries and a determination on whether additional charges will be filed.
As of Thursday, police said all five victims were expected to survive, and the 15-year-old suspect remained accused in the Westgate shooting. The case remains under investigation as Glendale detectives work to complete the timeline and trace the firearm.
Author note: Last updated July 9, 2026.