Crime
Mother Brenda Estrada jailed after rollover crash along I-17 near Peoria Avenue leaves 9-year-old Alexa Rivera dead
A tragic rollover crash on Interstate 17 in north Phoenix has left a 9-year-old girl dead and led to the arrest of her mother on multiple felony charges, authorities confirmed.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. on April 12 along the northbound lanes of I-17 near Peoria Avenue. According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the incident involved a single vehicle carrying a mother and her children.
Investigators identified the victim as 9-year-old Alexa Cortez Rivera, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities reported that the child was sharing a seat belt with a sibling at the time of the crash and was ejected from the vehicle during the rollover.
Three other children—a 1-year-old girl, a 3-year-old boy, and an 11-year-old boy—were also inside the vehicle. All three sustained injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital, where they were treated and later released.
The driver, 30-year-old Brenda Liliana Rivera Estrada of Phoenix, was also injured in the crash and taken to the hospital. Following her release, she was taken into custody and booked into jail.
According to investigators, Estrada is accused of driving recklessly and at high speeds while passing other vehicles prior to the crash. During the investigation, troopers reported detecting the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. In court proceedings, officials stated that Estrada admitted to using marijuana the previous day.
Prosecutors expressed serious concern for the safety of the surviving children, alleging that the defendant chose to operate a vehicle while impaired.
Witnesses also reported that the vehicle was traveling above the posted speed limit of 65 mph.
Estrada is now facing charges including manslaughter and child abuse. She is currently being held on a $100,000 bond.
The crash prompted the temporary closure of northbound Interstate 17 for several hours as authorities conducted their investigation.
The case remains ongoing.
Crime
5 dead including 3 children in Silver Rail Elementary shooting in Bend, teenage shooter killed by a Good Samaritan
BEND, Ore. — Five people were reportedly killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, according to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement.
The reported shooting prompted a major emergency response involving police, fire crews, and emergency medical services.
Authorities issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m., warning of a large police presence at the elementary school and urging the public to avoid the area.
According to the information provided, four victims were killed at the school. Three of those victims were children, while the fourth was an adult. The suspected gunman, described in preliminary reports as a teenager, was also reported dead, bringing the reported total to five fatalities.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the identities of the victims and the suspect, had not been fully established in the information available.
Preliminary reports indicated that the suspected gunman was a teenager and was killed after being confronted by a Good Samaritan.
Earlier scanner traffic reportedly indicated that the suspect had been neutralized. Unconfirmed reports suggested that the individual who intervened may have been a father of a student at the school.
However, authorities had not publicly confirmed all the circumstances surrounding the confrontation or independently verified the reported identity and role of the person who intervened.
Investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events leading up to the shooting, how the suspect was stopped, and whether the suspect acted alone.
The first police alert was issued at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday. It described a large police presence at Silver Rail Elementary School and instructed the public to stay away from the area.
Fire and emergency medical services personnel were seen responding near the school as authorities worked to address the reported threat and assist those affected.
The shooting prompted urgent concern among families and the surrounding community, particularly after reports indicated that children were among the victims.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced a reunification site for students and their families at Journey Church, located at 61303 S. Highway 97 in Bend, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Parents and guardians were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with students and receive further information.
Authorities urged families to follow official instructions and avoid approaching the school while emergency operations continued.
The reported shooting also prompted precautionary security measures at nearby schools. Parents received alerts indicating that Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary School had been placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon.
The lockdowns were reported as law enforcement responded to Silver Rail Elementary and worked to secure the surrounding area.
Further information was needed to establish how long the lockdowns remained in effect and when normal school operations resumed.
Although preliminary information indicated five deaths, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, additional official confirmation is needed regarding the victims’ identities, the suspect’s identity, and the circumstances of the shooting.
The reported involvement of a Good Samaritan also requires confirmation from investigators.
This remains a developing story. Further details should be added as law enforcement and school officials release verified information about the shooting and the investigation.