A newborn baby delivered via emergency surgery after the May 14th shooting, died this morning, according to Buckeye police.
The child’s mother, a 17-year-old who was shot in the incident, continues to recover from her injuries.
The Buckeye Police Department is recommending an additional homicide charge against the shooter who currently faces two homicide charges in the death of his 16-year-old girlfriend and her unborn child.
The 22-year-old woman who was also injured in the shooting remains in critical condition.
Background
On Monday, Buckeye police, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, took 19‑year‑old Antonio Tequida into custody at a home in Avondale.
A report from Buckeye police states that Tequida drove 18‑year‑old Michael Sanchez to the scene on Thursday night and later transported him to a friend’s house to hide. Tequida was booked on a hindering prosecution charge.
The shooting unfolded about 8:15 p.m. Thursday near Elwood Street and 257th Lane, when officers responding to reports of gunfire found three female victims. Sixteen‑year‑old Rylee Montgomery, who was pregnant, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other victims — a 17‑year‑old pregnant girl and a 22‑year‑old woman — were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Buckeye police identified Sanchez as the suspected shooter and, with help from Avondale police, arrested him at a residence in Avondale. He has been booked on multiple felony charges, according to the department.
Buckeye police also addressed a previous April 13 report involving Sanchez and Montgomery.
"Our records indicate on April 13, 2026, Buckeye police received a report that Montgomery had been assaulted by Sanchez several weeks prior in Buckeye," the statement reads. "Police interviewed both parties who gave conflicting accounts of what happened. Investigators were unable to establish probable cause for an arrest. As part of the April 13 report, investigators learned of an incident in Avondale where Sanchez allegedly threatened Montgomery with a gun. Buckeye police notified the Avondale Police Department which investigated that report."
Police said the victims and the suspect were known to one another. In a brief statement, the Buckeye Police Department thanked the community and law enforcement partners for their assistance in quickly apprehending those involved.
The case remains under investigation. Prosecutors and police have not released bond or court schedules; more details are expected as authorities continue to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting.
