Iren Byers, 20, Arrested Following Confession to Killing Four and Wounding One
A 20-year-old man in Arizona, identified as Iren Byers, has been arrested and confessed to a shooting spree that left four individuals dead and one woman critically injured. According to court documents, Byers stated that his actions were driven by a strong hatred of drugs and homelessness.
Byers was taken into custody for trespassing near Main Street and Extension Road in Mesa on Sunday. Following his arrest, he cooperated with police and revealed the location of a 9mm handgun and clothing he wore during the shootings. Shell casings from the crime scenes linked directly to the firearm found in a fanny pack in his grandmother’s apartment.
The first shooting occurred around 2:45 PM on Friday near 26th and Oak Street in Phoenix, where Byers shot 41-year-old Nicholas Arnstad in the head after becoming angry over Arnstad smoking fentanyl, a substance that had previously affected his family.
Later that night, police discovered the body of another victim, 41-year-old Julian Cox, in Beverly Park. Byers claimed to have shot Cox after he mentioned using “blues,” a slang term for fentanyl.
The violence continued as Byers met 41-year-old Stephen Young at a Circle K convenience store. After allegedly shooting Young in the head during a conversation about drug use, Byers discarded the body near a Greyhound station.
Byers then encountered 40-year-old John Swain on nearby railroad tracks, stating he shot Swain multiple times as he fell. Swain’s body was found early Saturday morning.
The final victim, 36-year-old Angela Fonseca, was shot in the face after Byers expressed anger towards her. Fonseca was hospitalized and is expected to survive after undergoing several surgeries.
Initially booked for trespassing, Byers now faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. He is being held without bond. Mesa Police Detective Brandi George commented on the situation, stating, “Knowing that Iren Byers will have to face the consequences of his unjustified actions is the start of justice to be seen.”
