A 27-year-old Arizona man has been taken into custody after police say he shot and killed his wife and her colleague outside a Little Caesars restaurant in Tempe.
Deadly Morning Attack in Phoenix Suburb
The violent incident unfolded shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday, 1 December 2025, in a strip mall located in the Phoenix suburb. Benjamin Visser Jr., aged 27, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with two counts of premeditated murder.
The victims were identified as his 21-year-old wife, Mary Visser, and her 32-year-old co-worker, Shaquille Simmons. Both were found with critical gunshot wounds outside the pizza establishment. Emergency services rushed them to a nearby hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
Witnesses Describe Chaotic Scene
According to police reports, officers were already in the vicinity investigating an unrelated fatal shooting at Tempe Marketplace when they heard multiple gunshots and responded immediately to the restaurant.
Upon arrival, they discovered Visser standing with a firearm in his hand. A neighbouring business owner, Kennedy Luong of Marvel Nails & Spa, described the terrifying sounds to local media. "The gun shoots bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang," Luong said. "I see one girl fall down."
Another witness who called emergency services reported seeing the suspect fire additional rounds after the initial victims had collapsed to the ground.
Local shop owner Tony Olvera of Lady Luck Tattoo Gallery expressed shock at the violence. "You don’t plan to come to work and see everything all roped off like this," he said. "It’s really surprising. I just don’t want it to reflect on us... It’s an isolated thing."
Ongoing Investigation and Police Response
Authorities have confirmed that this fatal attack is not connected to the separate homicide at Tempe Marketplace that occurred the same morning, for which a suspect remains at large.
The Tempe Police Department released a statement extending their sympathies to the victims and the employees of Little Caesars. They praised the "quick and coordinated response" of their officers, which they said helped "bring this dangerous situation to a safe conclusion."
Detectives are continuing their work to establish a motive for the killings. Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Tempe Police Department on 480-350-8311.
