Police say the 28-year-old victim survived but remains in critical condition after the Nov. 7 attack near 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road.
PHOENIX — A 23-year-old man is accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend four times at a west Phoenix apartment on Nov. 7, then shooting himself before driving away, according to police and court records. He was later arrested and appeared in court this weekend, where a judge set bond at $1 million cash.
The case, which prosecutors described as an attempted murder linked to a domestic dispute, has moved quickly from the initial shooting to an early court appearance. Investigators identified the suspect as David Jones, 23, and said the victim, a 28-year-old man, was critically injured. Court officials said Jones faces counts including attempted murder, aggravated assault, endangerment and burglary. During the hearing, a prosecutor warned the court that the family “is still in grave danger” of the defendant. Authorities said the woman at the center of the dispute shares a 16-month-old child with Jones.
Officers were called late Friday morning, Nov. 7, to an apartment complex near 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road, near the Tolleson border. Police said they found the 28-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds and rushed him to a hospital. Investigators said Jones had gone to his ex-girlfriend’s apartment and shot her current boyfriend three times, then told the woman, “This is all your fault,” as he pointed the gun at her. The wounded man stood up and moved between the two, and was shot in the head, police said, bringing the total to four wounds. After that, according to detectives, Jones turned the gun on himself and then left the scene, sparking a broader search that ended with him in custody.
During Jones’s initial appearance, prosecutors outlined a sequence they said showed escalating danger inside the apartment before shots were fired. They told the judge the victim remains in critical condition. The prosecutor said in open court, “Your honor, given the circumstances, this family is still in grave danger of the defendant.” A judge set bond at $1 million cash and noted the counts include attempted murder, aggravated assault, endangerment and burglary. Officials also said the ex-girlfriend and Jones share a 16-month-old, adding to concerns about safety planning around the family while the case proceeds. Authorities did not immediately release the type of firearm recovered or how it was obtained. Police also did not name the hospital treating the victim.
The Nov. 7 shooting occurred in a dense cluster of apartments and townhomes on Phoenix’s far west side, an area crisscrossed by freight routes and the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway. Police calls in the district often draw units from both Phoenix and nearby agencies when scenes span multiple blocks. In this case, officers focused on the complex at 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road, where neighbors reported sirens late in the morning and saw crime scene tape around building entries. Earlier this month, officers said they were developing a timeline from 10:45 a.m. onward, gathering security video and interviewing residents who heard the confrontation and the gunfire.
After the arrest, court proceedings shifted to whether Jones should remain in custody. Prosecutors emphasized the severity of the injuries and the close relationship between the parties, arguing for high bond under Arizona law. The judge agreed, ordering $1 million cash and listing standard release restrictions should bond ever be posted, including no contact with the involved family. As of Monday, Nov. 17, no firm preliminary hearing date had been posted on the public docket. Police said detectives are still reviewing digital evidence and statements taken after the shooting. Officials did not announce additional arrests or suspects.
Advocates said the case fits a pattern seen in intimate partner violence. Tanner Swanson, marketing director for A New Leaf, a Phoenix-area service provider for domestic violence survivors, said perpetrators often blame victims during or after violent episodes, which can escalate risk. Swanson said children in homes with violence can experience long-term trauma, including anxiety and depression. Neighbors near the complex described a heavy police presence as detectives marked shell casings and canvassed upper-level walkways for cameras that might have recorded the moments before the shots.
As of late Monday, the victim remained hospitalized in critical condition. Police said the investigation is ongoing, and the case is expected to return to court for its next scheduling conference once a date is set.
Author note: Last updated November 17, 2025.