Cleophus Emmanuel Cooksey Jr.

Cleophus Emmanuel Cooksey Jr. was born on March 25, 1982, in the state of Arizona, United States. He is the grandson of noted Tucson civil rights leader Roy L. Cooksey. Despite this family connection to activism and community service, Cleophus Cooksey Jr. developed a criminal record early in life.

In 2001, Cooksey was convicted of manslaughter and armed robbery for his role in a botched robbery at a topless bar. During that incident, one of his accomplices was fatally shot by the manager, who acted in self-defense. Due to Arizona’s felony murder law, Cooksey was held legally responsible for the death because it occurred during the commission of a violent crime. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter as part of a plea agreement.

Cooksey served time in prison and was released in July 2017, just four months before his alleged killing spree began. Despite his release, his reentry into society appeared to be marked by instability, and he quickly became entangled in a series of violent crimes that shocked the Phoenix area.

He was reportedly unemployed at the time of his arrest and was living with his mother and stepfather. Court documents suggest a troubled psychological profile, though no formal diagnosis has been made public. Throughout his early adult life, Cooksey maintained intermittent relationships, including one with Liliana Vasquez.

Between November 27 and December 17, 2017, Cleophus Cooksey Jr. allegedly committed a series of murders that left at least eight people dead in Phoenix, Glendale, and Avondale, Arizona. All of the victims had been fatally shot, and several appeared to have connections to Cooksey either through family, friendship, or former romantic relationships.

The killing spree began on November 27, 2017, when Andrew Remillard, 27, and Parker Smith, 21, were found shot to death inside a car. The motive remains unknown, and both men left behind loved ones, including Remillard’s wife and child.

On December 2, 2017, Cooksey allegedly shot and killed Salim Richards, 35, during a robbery. He stole Richards’ Glock 9mm handgun, which would later be used in additional murders.

On December 11, Jesus Real, 25, the brother of Cooksey’s ex-girlfriend Liliana Vasquez, was fatally shot in Avondale. He left behind children. Although police linked Cooksey to the crime, prosecutors ultimately declined to charge him for Real's murder.

On December 13, 29-year-old LaTorrie Beckford was found shot dead. Investigators were unable to determine a motive.

Three days later, on December 16, two more victims were killed in separate incidents. Kristopher Cameron, 21, was murdered in Glendale, leaving behind an 11-month-old son and another child on the way. That same day, Maria Villanueva, 43, was found shot to death. She had reportedly been sexually assaulted. Villanueva was the mother of two daughters.

The killing spree ended in tragedy and horror on December 17, when Cooksey murdered his own mother, Rene Cooksey, 56, and his stepfather, Edward Nunn, 54. Police were dispatched to the home and found a blood-covered Cooksey at the scene. He was immediately arrested.

Using ballistics analysis, DNA testing, a stolen phone, and stolen jewelry, Phoenix investigators quickly linked Cooksey to the other seven murders. They described the case as "complex and evolving," and warned there may be additional victims not yet identified.

During the investigation, authorities arrested three women connected to Cooksey: Desaree Coronado (23), Griselda Vasquez (24), and Liliana Vasquez (26). All three were charged with felonies including hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence. Coronado, the mother of Jesus Real's child, was also charged with false reporting. Police say Liliana Vasquez’s car was seen near the scenes of two murders.

Cooksey was represented by public defender Gary Beren. His trial began on May 5, 2025, and after nearly five months of proceedings, a jury found him guilty on eight counts of murder on September 25, 2025. Prosecutors did not proceed with charges in the Jesus Real case, despite evidence linking Cooksey to that killing.

To date, Cooksey remains imprisoned in Arizona. The Phoenix Police Department has stated that the investigation into unsolved murders in the region is ongoing and that more charges could be filed if additional evidence is found.