Police: Suspect Detained After Gunning Down His Wife And Her Coworker Outside Of Phoenix Little Caesars

An Arizona man is accused of gunning down his wife and a coworker outside a Little Caesars in Tempe this week before being apprehended on the scene, according to police.

The shooting occurred shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday in front of a pizza joint in a Phoenix suburb strip mall.

Benjamin Visser Jr., 27, was arrested at the site and charged with premeditated murder in the deaths of his 21-year-old wife, Mary Visser, and her 32-year-old coworker, Shaquille Simmons, who were found gravely injured. Both victims were transported to the hospital, where they died of their injuries.

Tempe police officers were already investigating a separate deadly shooting at Tempe Marketplace when they heard gunfire and hurried to the eatery, according to AZFamily. Police said they found Visser standing with a gun in his hand.

“The gun shoots bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang,” Kennedy Luong, the owner of Marvel Nails & Spa next door, told the news source. “I see one girl fall down.”

Another witness, who contacted 911, stated that they witnessed the perpetrator fire further bullets after the victims fell to the ground and attempted to get up.

“You don’t plan to come to work and see everything all roped off like this,” said Tony Olvera, owner of Lady Luck Tattoo Gallery. “It’s really surprising. I just don’t want it to reflect on us, you know. It’s an isolated thing, so you know, it’s not like this area is a bad area in any way.”

Police are still investigating what led to the killings.

“The Tempe Police Department extends their sympathies to the victims and the employees of Little Caesars during this difficult time,” police said in a statement, praising the “quick and coordinated response” of officers who detained the suspect and “helped bring this dangerous situation to a safe conclusion.”

Authorities claimed the tragic attack was unrelated to a separate fatal shooting at Tempe Marketplace that same morning, in which the culprit is still at large. The victim, who was not immediately recognized, and his girlfriend apparently met the suspect for an internet transaction.

Anyone with information can contact Tempe police at 480-350-8311.