Scottsdale suspect linked to four homicides dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound

CNN/Stylemagazine.com Newswire | 6/4/2018, 11:37 a.m.
A man who police say fatally shot four people in the past few days in Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona, died …
Scottsdale police Sgt. Ben Hoster says evidence at the scenes leads police to believe the killings are related.

By Eric Levenson and Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN

(CNN) -- A man who police say fatally shot four people in the past few days in Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound as police surrounded him, a police official said.

Detectives tracked the suspect to an Extended Stay Hotel in Scottsdale, according to Phoenix Police Sgt. Vince Lewis. As a tactical team set up to enter the room on Monday morning, shots were fired inside the room, and police found the suspect dead. No officers were injured or fired a weapon during the incident.

Police said the suspect was linked to the killings of a noted forensic psychiatrist, two paralegals and another man on late last week, respectively. All of the victims were shot within a 10-mile radius in Scottsdale and Phoenix.

Sgt. Ben Hoster of Scottsdale Police said that the 4th victim, though found Saturday morning, died sometime Friday afternoon. All four victims were killed within about 24 hours between Thursday 5:30 p.m. and Friday afternoon, Hoster said. Police believe the suspect knew all of the victims, he added.

Four homicide victims

One of the shooting victims was Steven Pitt, a forensic psychiatrist who was involved in several high-profile cases. He was found shot dead in Phoenix on May 31 after witnesses heard a loud argument and gunshots, officials said.

Pitt provided expertise in the investigation into the death of child beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey in 1996, he served as an adviser to prosecutors on the Columbine High School shooting, and he was a consulting expert in Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case, according to his website.

Veleria Sharp, 48, and Laura Anderson, 49, were shot and killed at a Scottsdale law firm Friday afternoon, according to Scottsdale Police.

Both worked as paralegals at the law office of Burt, Feldman, Grenier, a family law firm. Anderson had worked there for more than 10 years, the firm said in a statement to CNN affiliate KNXV.

"Her intellect, passion and friendship has meant more to us than we can even begin to convey. She was more than a coworker, she was a friend, a mother, grandmother, daughter and wife and gave all of herself to her family, her friends and her work," Burt, Feldman, Grenier said.

Sharp was a dedicated mother, wife and daughter, the law firm said.

"Veleria was a treasured member of our work family. She brought joy, calmness, warmth and compassion to all that she did," the firm added.

Marshall Levine, 72, was also found dead Saturday in his office at a Scottsdale mental health counseling facility. He had been shot and was found in his office by an acquaintance.