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February 23, 2022
The Voice of the West Valley for 36 years
Sister seeks justice for murdered brother
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI West Valley View Executive Editor
A
nger fills Tiffany Johnson when she talks about her late brother, Tyler Wilson. She’s angry with the gunman who killed Wilson in a Westgate Entertainment District parking lot on Jan. 29, 2020; angry at the shopping center’s management for seemingly not caring about the unsolved crime; and angry at the Glendale Police Department who, she said she believes, could do more to catch the perpetrator. “Honestly, my family is just going through hell,” Johnson said. The 31-year-old, who graduated from Millennium High School, headed to Westgate to enter one of his vehicles in a car show. At the entertainment district, Wilson was gunned down during an argument over a parking spot. The Glendale Police Department pleaded with the public via Twitter to share in-
formation about the incident by calling 623-930-3000 or at Silent Witness, 480-WITNESS. There are no new leads. Johnson and her family have parlayed that anger into a mission to catch the killer as well. They created T-shirts and other products. Some were not receptive to Johnson’s ideas. “My kids came up with the idea of painting these little rocks that have kind quotes or they drew sweet pictures on them,” Johnson said. “It helped the kids get their emotions out and their frustrations out. On the back, we put #tylerwilsonAZ and on another
Tiffany Johnson with her brother, Tyler Wilson. Wilson was shot Justice...continued on page 3 and killed at Westgate. (Photo courtesy of Tiffany Johnson)
Venom volleyball plays for teammate BY ZAKKARY BROG
West Valley View Staff Writer
W
hen the Goodyear-based Venom Volleyball Club took to the court early Feb. 19 for the Festival Fiesta Classic at State Farm Stadium, it was not just to play. It was to honor teammate Alexa Cruz, the 17-year-old Laveen Cesar Chavez High
School student who was killed in a Feb. 3 car crash on the way to the Lone Star National Qualifier in Austin. “She’s always been really part of the team,” teammate Larissa Morgan said. “She was a really outspoken person. She was very known around the school. You could always go to her for any advice. She was like that one girl everybody knew.”
Olivia Quidera agreed. “Alexa was just overall an amazing person,” the Venom teammate said. “Everyone wanted to be around her. She was just that person, the most kind-hearted girl you’ll ever meet. Just so loving. Everything about her was just amazing.”
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