- Slug: Silent Witness. 450 words.
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Police say tips called into Silent Witness line will help catch Maryvale shooter
By Christina Tetreault
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – Police say someone knows the identity of the Maryvale shooter, the man who brought violence and death to neighborhoods in Maryvale and central Phoenix.
Someone knows something about a serial shooter who killed seven people, including a 12-year-old girl, and injured two others.
Someone noticed something about a man who fired shots in the dark of night, devastating families and communities.
Phoenix police urge anyone who knows something – the identity of the suspect, what he looks like, where he works, something, anything – contact Silent Witness, where anonymous tips that lead to an arrest or indictment that usually bring as much as a $1,000 reward.
Tipsters can call 480-948-6377, 1-800-343-8477 or text “Silent” plus the message to 274637.
The reward has reached $30,000 for the Maryvale “serial street” shooter.
‘We will find you’
Phoenix Police and community organizations are asking the community’s help to solve the case.
“When things like this happen we can’t be the eyes and ears all the time, so we need the community to step up,’’ said upcoming Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams, who starts her new job as chief in October. “And to the suspect, we will find you.”
Jamie Rothschild, who works with Silent Witness, emphasized the ease and anonymity of the program.
“Oftentimes, the people who have the most information are the people who are most reluctant to come forth,” Rothschild said.
Nearly four decades of Silent Witness
The 24-hour anonymous call-in tipline is nearly 40 years old. The nonprofit is staffed by Phoenix police, who work with other law-enforcement agencies in Arizona. It is financed by donations, not taxpayer money.
“It’s another tool to really allow us to really find what’s critical and what can be followed up on,” Rothschild said. “We’re looking for information on any felony crime and we have the ability to get that to the investigators.”
It was designed so residents could give critical information to law enforcement about crimes without publicly interacting with an officer.
“We know there are some people who may not trust the police and there are certainly some people who don’t want to be seen talking to the police,” Rothschild said. “We have to protect the anonymity of the person at all costs.”
$30,000 reward to get Maryvale shooter
The maximum financial reward is usually $1,000 but that amount is increased for major cases. In the case of the serial shooter, the Silent Witness reward is now $30,000. Multiple law-enforcement agencies are involved in the hunt for the shooter, including Phoenix police, the FBI, Arizona Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshal’s Service and Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
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