The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced Thursday that three men have been sentenced to prison time in connection to a 2020 crime spree that included armed robbery, murder and attempted murder.
Jaquan Bailey, 20, Stephon Mitchell, 20, and Vincent Culbreath, 40, were arrested on Oct. 26, 2020 following multiple incidents of shots fired, one of which resulted in the death of then 38-year-old Brandon Van.
What happened in 2020
According to original court documents, the incident was captured by surveillance cameras in the area, which showed the three men and a fourth person, Ashley Herrell, flagging Van down in front of a residence near University Drive and Dobson Road.
The group was seen following Van in their car. Bailey, Mitchell and Culbreath exited the vehicle and began to chase Van. Mitchell shouted at Van while Van hid behind a planter, saying he didn’t have anything and pleading not to be shot.
Bailey proceeded to shoot at Van, prompting him to give up his backpack and immediately surrender.
Court documents stated that Mitchell took the backpack and searched Van. After doing so, Mitchell pushed him down and began punching him. Bailey then reportedly shot Van, ultimately killing him.
Mesa Police said that an hour prior to Van’s murder, the three men robbed a convenience store and flashed their guns at the clerk while Herrell stayed in the car.
After murdering Van, police said that the three men and Herrell were seen stealing four tires. The group reportedly tried to execute another armed robbery and shot a woman, Josephine Marquez, who intervened, leaving her in critical condition.
Marquez later died on Dec. 15, 2020.
Their run came to an end after all four were arrested following reports of shots fired during a fight in Phoenix.
Details of sentencing
Three years later, all three men have pleaded guilty to their involvement, including charges of second-degree murder, a class one dangerous felony, and one count of armed robbery, a class two dangerous felony, according to the MCAO statement.
Bailey, however, was the only one charged with attempted second-degree murder, which he also pled guilty to.
Bailey and Mitchell were both sentenced to 40 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections, while Culbreath will face 35.5 years.
According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the men are gang members who traveled throughout Maricopa County committing “vicious crimes.” Each of them was also prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior arrests or juvenile adjudications.
“The victims in this case were innocent bystanders who were simply going about their lives when they were targeted by known gang members,” said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell in the statement. “Violence, intimidation, or harm against the community will simply not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
No information had been released on the sentencing or status of the fourth member, Ashley Herrell.