Two people were confirmed dead and two others critically injured following a shooting in downtown Globe bar at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11.

During a press conference held at 1 p.m. Monday, Globe Chief of Police Dale Walters said that the prime suspect, 22-year-old Sterling Randall Hunt, of Globe, was currently in custody in San Carlos on unrelated charges.

Courtesy/Globe Police Department

22-year-old Sterling Randall Hunt, of Globe

Responding to questions by reporters, Walters said that Hunt is a member of the Navajo Nation who was raised in Globe and was visiting a friend in San Carlos at the time.

At 10:29 p.m. Sunday, Globe police responded to the Jammerz Bar, 598 N. Broad St., after a report of shots fired, finding four gunshot victims. The Globe Fire Department also responded to the scene, rendering aid to the victims, he said.

Walters said he would not release the names of the victims, at the request of their families, until “the families are comfortable” that all other family members had been properly notified.

He plans to hold an additional press conference at about 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13 (after press time).

Of the four victims, one was male and the three others female, said Walters, adding that deceased at the scene were a 22-year-old male and a 44-year-old female.

The other two females, both 22-years old, were airlifted to Valley hospitals for their injuries.

Police have confiscated the weapon, which Walters described as a “semi-automatic handgun.”

All four victims were in the bar on what Walters called “an average night,” when three of them went outside for a smoke. The suspect then followed them out and opened fire, he said.

Responding to questions from reporters, Walters said there is no known motive and no indication that any of the victims were specifically targeted.

Walters said that the suspect had played pool with the victims earlier that night.

Asked about present danger to the community, Walters replied that while it was a “horrible tragedy,” it was nonetheless a one-time, isolated incident.

Once the shooting began, other people at the bar fled the scene, said Walters, asking that anyone who was at the bar at the time of the shooting and has information to contact the Globe Police Department, especially Det. Steve Williams at 928-425-5751.

“This is a very sad day for the City of Globe,” Walters said at the beginning of the press conference, calling the shooting “a senseless act of violence.”

“I’d like to express our deepest condolences to their family members and pray for a full recovery to those seriously injured last night,” he said.

Walters thanked the Gila County Sheriff’s Office, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Gila County Attorney’s Office, both the Town of Miami and San Carlos Apache Police Departments and the Gila County Drug, Gang and Violent Crimes Task Force for their assistance.

“The Globe community is coming together in the face of this tragedy and I want to express my gratitude for their support and efforts,” he said.

A candlelight vigil was planned to begin at sundown Monday at Yuma and Broad Streets, in downtown Globe.

Al Gameros, the mayor of Globe, had opened the press conference saying, “Last night our community endured a horrible tragedy. A night of friends and good times turned into a senseless act of violence.”

Like Walters, Gameros extended his sincere condolences and prayers to all the families.

He also thanked all law enforcement and fire agencies that responded to the scene, treating the victims and bringing “this dangerous event to a quick conclusion without any other victims.”

Before the press conference Globe City Councilwoman Charlene Giles distributed to the media a handwritten note by the family of deceased victim Cristi Lee Licano, who was known for “her quick wit, contagious laughter and, above all else, her love for life, family and friends.”

“She was always there to listen and help in a time of need,” the note said. “This Globe-Miami local genuinely cared for the community.”

It went on to describe Licano as “a stellar athlete and a huge Dallas Cowboys fan.”

“We love you, Cristi Lee, and your presence will always be felt.”

A benefit bank account has been established at Wells Fargo Bank with funeral expenses, and there is also an online account at www.gofundme.com/cristi-licano-memorial-fund.

“All of the victims of this senseless tragedy will be sorely missed and never forgotten,” the note said. “Our hearts and prayers go out to their families at this time of loss.”

At about 10 a.m. Monday, Gameros had posted a statement on his personal Facebook page, addressing the residents of the Globe-Miami community.

“We need to offer our prayers and condolences to the families that were affected by the tragic event that occurred at the Jammerz Bar last night in downtown Globe,” he said.

Gameros asked the community’s patience with the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Globe Police Department and the Arizona DPS Crime Unit.

“Please be aware and sympathetic of the families involved as the next of kin notification is ongoing,” he said. “I want to thank all the public safety-first responders that responded last night and continue to be on scene.”

Globe police and fire deal with two incidents in historic downtown

The Globe Police Department is continuing its investigation into last week’s bomb threat against Great Western Bank which, thankfully, turned out to be a hoax.

Located at 161 W. Oak St., the branch was closed, as were the adjacent streets in historic downtown Globe, on the morning of Monday, Nov. 5.

Globe Police Chief Dale Walters said at the time that the bomb threat was believed to be a hoax.

As it turned out, however, “area emergency responders dealt with two incidents” that day, according to Globe Fire Chief Gary Robinson.

“During the first incident, workers in the area also reported the smell of natural gas,” he said in a statement issued last week.

After fire department personnel determined that a gas leak was likely, businesses along Broad Street, between Oak and Cedar Streets, were evacuated, and Southwest Gas was contacted, Robinson said.

In cooperation with the local fire department, Southwest Gas personnel found an active gas leak in the alley, between Broad and Pine Streets, where construction is ongoing, he said.

Southwest Gas personnel were able to secure the leak without incident.

Both incidents in historic downtown were resolved at the same time, with the closures lifted at about 11 a.m., Robinson said.

In his statement, Robinson thanked the Globe Police, Tri-City Fire District, Gila County Sherriff’s Office and the Globe Public Works Department, as well as Southwest Gas, “for their support in mitigating these incidents.”

Great Western Bank in Globe, re-opened, maintain its normal business hours until 5 p.m. that day.

Streets in historic downtown Globe, from Cedar to Pine, were closed the morning of Monday, Nov. 5, first due to a bomb threat at Great Western Bank, which turned out to be a hoax, then due to a gas leak in the alley behind the Globe Fire Department. The scene was cleared at about 11 a.m. that day. Photo by Carol Broeder.