In the early morning of August 2, 2024, a shooting at a residence on the 3800 block of Diabase Drive in Golden Valley, Arizona, left 41-year-old David Richard Roberts Jr. dead from gunshot wounds. Deputies responded shortly after 12:40 AM and the investigation rapidly identified a suspect, prompting a temporary felony warrant for 36-year-old Kenneth Joseph Carter; his father, 58-year-old Kenneth Allen Carter, was sought for questioning. Both men turned themselves in the same day; the younger Carter was charged with first-degree murder and the elder Carter was charged with hindering prosecution.

According to court pleadings and trial testimony, the Carters drove to Roberts’ home after midnight and an argument broke out when Roberts came outside. The defense contended Kenneth Carter acted in self-defense, saying Roberts fired first with a 9mm handgun and a ricochet wounded the elder Carter before Kenneth returned fire with an AR-15, striking Roberts in the side and back. Prosecutors described the Carters as aggressors who came to the house at an unreasonable hour and maintained there was no lawful justification, noting they planned to play a jailhouse recording in which the defendant boasted about the nickname AR-Kenny.

Many questions remain about motive and the exact sequence of events. Does anyone have information about Roberts, his connections in Golden Valley, or the events that night?