TEMPE, AZ – Three young men were sentenced this week for a 2023 drive-by shooting in Tempe that resulted in the death of a 5-year-old boy and injuries to two other children. The case revealed the chilling aftermath, as the perpetrators reportedly returned to the crime scene to capture a video, boasting about the shooting soon after picking up dinner, according to Maricopa County prosecutors.

Alfred Gary, 18, Freddy Patterson, 18, and Charles Adams, 20, faced justice for their involvement in the tragic shooting, with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office confirming the incident was gang-related. The trio encountered a car occupied by seven individuals, mostly children and teenagers, and unleashed a barrage of more than 20 bullets.

The men pleaded guilty to multiple serious charges, including second-degree murder, drive-by shootings, conspiracy, and aggravated assault. Consequently, Gary was sentenced to 16 years in prison, while Patterson and Adams each received a 30-year sentence. Demarcus Frazier, 32, is also implicated in the crime, with his case still pending; prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty.

The attack occurred in March 2023 when the defendants, driving along 48th Street and Broadway Road, opened fire on a black Impala stopped at a red light.

The incident left a 5-year-old dead and caused injuries to a 17-year-old and an 8-year-old. After the shooting, the men reportedly sought dinner before returning to record a video at the scene, boasting about their violent act to fellow gang members.

Prosecutors indicated that both Patterson and Adams are affiliated with a local Phoenix street gang, and the motivation behind the attack stemmed from a conflict with a rival gang member believed to be in the Impala.

Additional five-year prison terms were imposed on Patterson and Adams for a separate shooting incident involving another family in Phoenix, which fortunately resulted in no injuries.

In a statement, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell denounced the actions of the young men, emphasizing that such disregard for human life has no place in society and underscoring the commitment of her office to combat gang violence and protect community safety.